Schedule of Events

Posted September 16, 1996

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 13, 1996
96-09-02-OTHER

The University of Saskatchewan SAFE: Sexual Assault, Freedom through Education Committee is holding its first ever Sexual Assault Awareness Day on Wednesday, September 18. The awareness day is intended to educate students about the issues surrounding sexual assault.

A campus-wide committee, comprised of students and administrators, has organized the awareness day to help fulfill its objective or raising awareness of sexual assault.

President Ivany states It is the responsibility of each one of us to ensure the creation and maintenance of a safe and wholesome environment for all corners to our campus. To this end the University is committed to helping raise awareness about sexual assault and it strongly supports the Sexual Assault Awareness Committee and its SAFE (Sexual Assault, Freedom through Education) program.

Anna Vasquez, USSU Vice-President (Internal), also supports the initiative: Awareness days are vital in addressing sensitive issues, especially sexual assault. Education is an important first step towards prevention.

Most of the awareness activities, including Rape Aggression Defense demonstrations and live student theatre, are scheduled over the noon hour on the U of S campus.

For more information, contact: Kara Exner Program coordinator, Student Affairs and Services phone: (306) 966-7279: e-mail: kara.exner@usask.ca

University of Saskatchewan Sexual Assault Awareness Day

September 18, 1996

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

Dr. Carole Pond, Co-ordinator of Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services (formerly the Sexual Harassment Officer), started a sexual assault awareness committee in August, 1994.

Initially, the committee discussed the possibility of creating a University policy regarding sexual assault, but it soon started to focus on educational activities.

The objectives of the SAFE: Sexual Assault, Freedom through Education program, are to:

increase awareness of the issues surrounding sexual assault;
help prevent the occurrence of sexual assault by educating members of the campus community about potentially risky situations; and
make referrals to resources which can assist people who have been sexually assaulted.

The SAFE Program is a joint educational effort involving representatives from the University of Saskatchewan Students' Union (USSU), Security Services, Student Health Centre, Student Counseling Services, Residence, USSU Student Help Centre, USSU Women's Centre, Graduate Students' Association, Discrimination and Harassment Prevention Services, and Student Affairs and Services.