Let’s Get Consensual

Let’s Get Consensual is a student-led movement to end rape culture on post-secondary campuses across BC.

Our mission is to make campuses safer by providing judgment-free consent education and training, and to fight rape culture on campuses. From condoms to consent training, we do this in a number of ways: poster and media campaigns, workshops and training, safer sex supplies, student outreach and engagement, and much more!

Our LGC partners on campuses across BC include:

  • Vancouver Island University Students’ Union
  • Okanagan College Students’ Union
  • Douglas Students’ Union (DSU)
  • Northern Undergraduate Student Society (NUGSS)
  • Students’ Union of Vancouver Community College
  • BC Federation of Students

If your campus would like to partner with LGC, email campaigns@uvss.ca 

If you have been impacted by sexualized violence (directly or indirectly), there are many resources available to you. Please see our resources section below.

What’s Consent?

There are many different definitions and models of consent that take into account the particular wants, needs, and communication styles of those who practice it.

At LGC, we define consent as a mutual emotional, physical and psychological understanding between people(s) without force of any kind. When engaging intimately with other individuals, consent is necessary to ensure that everybody involved is aware and interested in what is happening. Consent is based on communication, not assumptions.

Check out this video series to hear 2020-2021 Director of Campaigns, Emily Lowan, talk about six elements of consent (here’s our YouTube playlist).

What’s Sexualized Violence?

Sexualized violence is anything that disrespects your sexuality (including disrespect of asexuality) or is violence in a sexualized context. This can look like comments, leering, intimidation, coercion, expectations, discrimination, non consensual touching, sexual assault, sexual harassment, etc.

The video below features male-identified UVic students speaking out on issues of sexualized violence and raising awareness about consent.

What We Do

Outreach

Throughout the year, the UVSS will be engaging students on the topics of sexualized violence. Right now, our focus is on social media engagement and online events. We are working to make consent the norm. Join us in the conversation!

Find resources

At UVic:

  • The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) –  is committed to addressing and ending gender-based and sexualized violence on campus and beyond. We strive to provide anti-oppressive and sex-positive services, advocacy and action on-campus and off to people of all genders, in partnership and collaboration, in order to address and resist all intersecting forms of violence.
  • Sexualized Violence Resource Office – for info, support, confidential consultation, and reporting options.
  • Support Connect – for 24/7 mental health support, by phone, video, or in-person.
    • 1-844-773-1427 (Canada)
    • 1-250-999-7621 (International
  • Student Wellness Centre – for students who have experienced recent or historical sexualized violence including pregnancy options, STI testing, or meeting with a forensic nurse examiner.

Learn More at UVic

The Anti-Violence Project offers free workshops on a regular basis. If you’ve like to learn more about sexualized violence, consent, and supporting a survivor, check out the following:

  • Understanding Consent Culture: “This online workshop is intended to provide folks with the information, skills, and opportunity to understand and practice consent. Through activities and discussion, we will bust myths about sexualized violence and gender, explore the concept of rape culture and learn about consent (what it is, why it’s required, how to practice it). “
  • Supporting a Survivor: “Throughout the workshop we will cover the very important differences between support, disclosure and reporting and provide some foundations for supporting survivors of sexualized violence. We will discuss different approaches and tools that can be used when supporting someone, including: active listening, believing survivors, busting myths, showing empathy and making referrals.” (It is recommended that folks interested in this workshop first attend the Understanding Consent Culture workshop.)

Events

events

Sexualized Violence Awareness Week (SVAW)

In mid-September, the UVSS, UVic, and AVP host Sexualized Violence Awareness Week. The week includes info fairs, social media activism, workshops, speakers and other fun activities. Make sure you check it out this year! Find details of the programme at: uvic.ca/svaw

Sexualized Violence Awareness Week: Rewriting the Rulebook – Sexualized Violence in Sports

A dynamic conversation between Team Canada Rugby player and former UVic Vikes player, Pamphinette Buisa and Christine O’Bonsawin, a UVic Indigenous Studies Prof and Olympic History expert.

They spoke about their personal experiences with discrimination and sexualized violence in sport and the need for Uvic Vikes athletes and coaches to prioritize conversations about consent and preventing sexualized violence.

Together, we can end rape culture at UVic and replace it with a culture of consent. This event was a part of the annual Sexualized Violence Awareness Week. #SVAW

SVAW: Sex and Consent in Canada: What’s Okay, What isn’t and Why

SVAW speaker event on Sex and Consent in Canada, with our Director of International Student Relations and Arshdeep from MOSAIC BC. Sometimes it’s hard to say or hear no, especially in a new culture where the rules around sexual consent are different. From sexting to sex, Arshdeep and Dip discuss how to navigate dating and consent as an international student in Canada.

The Anti-Violence Project

The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is committed to addressing and ending gender-based and sexualized violence on campus and beyond. AVP strives to provide anti-oppressive and sex-positive services, advocacy and action to people of all genders on and off-campus, in order to address and resist all intersecting forms of violence. AVP offers free support services that strive to acknowledge all of the complexities of gender-based violence in a confidential and person-focused setting. AVP supports people who have experienced gender-based violence, people who are supporting a survivor of violence, as well as people who have caused harm and seek to change their actions. We have staff and a team of volunteers who are trained to provide emotional support and to connect people with relevant resources and referrals, including advocacy, community, counselling, health and/or legal services.

Support Line: 250 472-4388

Office Line: 250-721-8080

Website: antiviolenceproject.org

The University of Victoria’s Office of Student Life

The Office of Student Life (OSL) is another key partner in the Let’s Get Consensual campaign. Their Student Life Leadership Program’s Consent Advocates and Relationship Educators (C.A.R.E. team) provide important advocacy and awareness programming around consent and healthy relationships on campus. The OSL also offers 3-hour bystander intervention training to provide students with the skills to recognize and safely intervene in and prevent instances of sexualized violence. You can find more information and registration for “Bringing in the Bystander” and learn about more Office of Student Life’s initiatives their website.