LET’S GET CONSENSUAL (LGC) is the UVSS’ campaign for consent education, safer-sex resources, and sexualized-violence prevention.
LGC has been part of the UVSS since 2013. On campus, the campaign supports consent education, safer-sex resources, outreach, and connections to support. Provincially, the UVSS works with student organizations across BC to advocate for stronger, funded, and survivor-centred sexualized-violence policy.
Our LGC partners on campuses across BC include:
BC3 Coalition (Alma Matter society [UBC], SFSS, SUO)
ABCs (Alliance of British Columbia Students)
Capilano Student Union (CSU)
Want to bring LGC to your campus? Email campaigns@uvss.ca
Need support? If you have been directly or indirectly impacted by sexualized violence, support is available. See the Find Support section below.
WHAT IS CONSENT?
Consent is part of how we respect one another’s choices and boundaries in everyday life. In a sexual context, consent is a voluntary, ongoing agreement to engage in sexualized contact or activity. Everyone involved must freely and mutually agree to participate, and consent must continue throughout the activity.
Consent is required regardless of someone’s relationship or sexual history, and it can be withdrawn at any time.
Core Principles of Consent
- Ask before acting and check in before changing activities.
- The person initiating or changing an activity is responsible for asking for consent.
- Consent must be freely and mutually communicated; it cannot be coerced.
- Consent is ongoing and can be withdrawn at any time.
- Past consent or a prior agreement does not mean consent now.
- Silence, freezing, or the absence of resistance is not consent.
- Consent is not present when someone is pressured, threatened, intimidated, or when power, trust, or authority is being abused.
- Respect a ‘no’ without arguing, pressuring, or trying to change someone’s mind.
- If you are unsure whether someone wants to continue, stop and check in.
Alcohol, drugs, and consent
Alcohol and other substances can affect a person’s ability to process information, make decisions, and respond. Someone who is incapacitated cannot consent. If you are unsure whether someone can meaningfully understand, decide, and communicate about what is happening, stop.
Digital consent
Consent matters online too. Ask before taking, posting, sharing, or forwarding intimate images or private sexual content involving someone else. Receiving an intimate image does not mean you have permission to share it with anyone else.
WHAT IS SEXUALIZED VIOLENCE?
Sexualized violence includes any non-consensual, unwanted, attempted, actual, or threatened act or behaviour carried out through sexual means or by targeting a person’s sex, sexual identity, gender identity, or gender expression. It may occur through physical contact or through verbal, written, visual, digital, or other forms of communication.
Sexualized violence can overlap with gender-based violence and can include behaviour that targets or disrespects someone’s sexuality, including asexuality.
Examples include inappropriate sexualized comments, sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, stealthing, indecent exposure, voyeurism, and distributing sexually explicit images or video without the depicted person’s consent.
Sexualized violence can happen between strangers, friends, classmates, co-workers, partners, or ex-partners. Anyone can experience sexualized violence.
SUPPORT, DISCLOSURE, & REPORTING; WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
Support: Support can include holding space for people who have experienced harm, caused harm, or are carrying trauma. It can include emotional support, information about options and services, and referrals. For survivors, support includes being believed and having their experiences validated. Seeking support does not require starting a formal process.
Disclosure: Telling someone about an experience of sexualized violence. A disclosure is not the same as a formal report and does not, by itself, initiate an investigation.
Report: Making a formal report to UVic through the Sexualized Violence Resource Office (SVRO), with the intention of initiating an investigation under UVic’s Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response Policy. Reporting to police is a separate option.
You can seek support or make a disclosure without making a formal report. You do not need to file a formal report to receive support, information, or explore other available options. UVic’s policy is survivor-centred and recognizes survivors’ agency in deciding whether to file a report and the extent of their participation in policy processes.
You can seek support through the Anti-Violence Project (AVP) or the Sexualized Violence Resource Office (SVRO).
WHAT WE DO
Locally, at UVic
LGC brings consent and sexualized-violence prevention into everyday student life through campaigns, digital and print education, events, safer-sex resources, and work with campus partners.
The Anti-Violence Project (AVP) is a UVSS service group and a key educational and support partner. AVP offers peer-based support to people who have experienced violence and people who have caused harm and specializes in gender-based and sexualized violence. AVP also provides workshops, anti-violence education, advocacy, resources, and referrals.
LGC connects students with AVP’s programming and works with AVP on consent education, outreach, and related campaign activities, while using the UVSS campaign platform to keep consent and safer-sex education visible across campus.
UVSS also works with other UVic partners on prevention and education while maintaining its independent role in advocating for students and holding the institution accountable.
Provincially
LGC has always been about more than campus awareness. UVSS works with student organizations across BC to advocate for stronger, funded, survivor-centred sexualized violence policy and prevention.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
LGC is strongest when students help shape it. There are different ways to get involved:
- Join the UVSS Campaigns Committee and help shape LGC and other student campaigns.
- Connect with AVP to learn about volunteering and getting involved in their community.
- Attend AVP workshops, consent education, and other community events.
- Share LGC resources and help keep conversations about consent, safer sex, and sexualized violence visible on campus.
- Have an idea for LGC, want to collaborate, or want to get involved? Email campaigns@uvss.ca.
FIND SUPPORT
In an emergency, call 911. If the incident is on campus, Campus Security is available 24/7 at 250-721-7599. For 24/7 crisis support, call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888. To access the Victoria Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), call the Vancouver Island Crisis Line and ask to speak with a VSAC Sexual Assault Support Worker.
On Campus
The Anti-Violence Project (AVP)
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.
Talk & Text Peer Support: 672-204-4545
Office phone: 250-721-8080
Email: avppeersupport@uvss.ca
Located in SUB B027 (office) / B024 (support room)
Visit antiviolenceproject.org for more information.
Current peer-support hours and anonymous-support hours are available on AVP’s website.
Sexualized Violence Resource Office (SVRO), Equity & Human Rights (EQHR)
Sexualized Violence Resource Office is for info, support, confidential consultation, and reporting options .
If you would like to arrange an appointment for information and support, please contact the Case Management Officer at eqhr01@uvic.ca or 250-721-8486
If you have questions or concerns about the sexualized violence policy or if you wish to make a disclosure and/or report, please call the sexualized violence resource and intake line: 250-721-8021.
Located in the Sedgewick Building, Room C133
Visit uvic.ca/sexualizedviolence for more information.
Office of Student Life
The Office of Student Life is part of UVic’s Division of Student Affairs. They work to promote a safer and more inclusive campus community and supporting student engagement, development, and well-being at UVic.
Phone: 250-472-5617
Email: studentlife@uvic.ca
Located in the Jamie Cassels Centre, Room B202
Visit in person at the Jamie Cassels Centre room B202, or check out uvic.ca/services/studentlife for more information.
Student Wellness Centre
The Student Wellness Centre is for students who have experienced recent or historical sexualized violence including pregnancy options, STI testing, or meeting with a forensic nurse examiner.
Phone: 250-721-8563
SupportConnect: A free, confidential mental health support service for UVic students available 24/7. Contact 1-844-773-1427
Located in the Health and Wellness Building
Learn more at uvic.ca/student-wellness.
Off Campus
Victoria Sexual Assault Centre (VSAC)
The Victoria Sexual Assault Centre is a feminist organization committed to ending sexualized violence through healing, education, and prevention.
Service Access: 250-383-3232 or email access@vsac.ca
Vancouver Island Crisis Line / SART access: 1-888-494-3888
Visit vsac.ca for more information
Men’s Therapy Centre
The Men’s Therapy Centre provides support and/or counseling services to over two hundred masculine identified persons and their family members each year.
Call 250-381-6367 or email info@menstherapycentre.ca
Located at 301-3491 Saanich Road Victoria, BC V8X1W8, Mon-Fri 9:00AM – 5:00PM, Wed until 7:00pm
Visit menstherapycentre.ca for more information.
AVI Health & Community Services - Prism Wellness
Prism Wellness’ primary focus is to reduce HIV, Hepatitis C, STIs, and stigma in the Southern Vancouver Island communities of gender and sexual minorities. They offer 2SLGBTQIA+ sexual-health, harm-reduction, and wellness supports.
Phone: 250-384-2366
Email: prismwellness@avi.org
Located on the 3rd Floor of the Access Health Centre – 713 Johnson St, Victoria BC V8W 1M8
Visit avi.org/service/prism-wellness for more information
Restorative Justice Victoria
Restorative Justice Victoria is a non-profit, community-based organization that provides restorative justice services in the Greater Victoria Area. Cases are individually assessed for suitability.
Contact: 250-383-5801 or email office@rjvictoria.com
Located at 1929 Lee Avenue, Victoria, BC V8R 4W9
Visit rjvictoria.com for more information.
Please note: Support services, contact details, and hours can change. Check the organization’s website for the most current information.
FEATURED LGC PARTNERS
THE ANTI-VIOLENCE PROJECT (AVP)
The Anti-Violence Project is an on-campus sexual assault resource center. They provide support, education, and advocacy on all interconnected forms of violence with a focus on gender-based and sexualized violence. Visit antiviolenceproject.org for access to resources, frequently hosted workshops, and more information. You can also follow them on Instagram @anti.violence.project.
THE UVIC OFFICE OF STUDENT LIFE
The Office of Student Life partners with the Let’s Get Consensual Campaign for events, education, and campaigns. Their Consent & Care Collective, a consent, sexuality, and relationship education program designed by and for students, is currently developing a new program for the UVic community. To learn more about all their programs, and to learn more about the Consent & Care Collective’s work, you can follow them on Instagram @uvicyearone or visit their website.