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2 BB OPINION AMOUNT OF : SEXUAL ASSAULT # CASES DISTURBING, é WRITES CARM BOZZ0 F Ontario students are fi- nally back in classrooms, back on campuses and back in college residences. A sense of normalcy is Thursday, October 7, 2021 | | <= = =] m n=] : mom o the air. However, as students tiol re are conversations that need to n. is not about academ- ics. Itisnotabout COVID. It is about the prevalence of sexual harassment and as- lice investigation has been launched at the University CARM BOZZO Column of Western Ontario in re- gards to a report that there have been multiple alleged drug-related sexual as- saults. A 2020 Statistics Canada report highlighted that: - Amajority (71 per cent) of students at Canadian post-sect schools witnessed. or experienced unwanted sexualized beha- viours in a ost: secondary setting in — either on pus situation that involved students or other people associated with the school. «Among students, r cent of those who identified as women personally expe- rienced at least one such behaviour. + Only eight per cent who experienced sexualas- sault and only nine per cent who had experienced unwanted sexualized beha- viours spoke about what happened with someone associated with the school. + While many saw what happened as not serious enough to report, others cited a lack of knowledge about what to do or a mis- oust in how the school would handle the situation. "Sexual violence isram- pant on university and col- lege campuses and survi- vors are often dismissed and silenced. This reality results in victim blaming and reinforces rape cul- ture," said Silvia Samas, executive director at SA- VIS (Sexual Assault Vio- lence Intervention Servic- es) "At SAVIS we stand in solidarity with survivors and urge University of Western Ontario to believe survivors and hold perpe- trators accountable." studies show that most students chose not to inter- vene, seek help or take oth- er action in at least one in- stance when they witness unwanted sexualized beha- viours, including 91 Per cent of women and 92 pe! cent of men who witnessed such behaviours. Many women did not act because they felt uncom- FAR TOO MANY SUFFER IN SILENCE fortable because they feared negative conse- quences or because they feared for their safety. The fact that so many women didn't know what to do when this happened to them is something that Halton Women's Place is trying to change through our violence salen programs through our presentations in classrooms. As well, the high num- ber of individuals who did not intervene is another opportunity for us, as vio- lence against women ex- perts, to oacate our com- munity — routh espe- cially — on now to safely intervene and why it is im- portant to not bea bystand- er. These statistics coin- cide with the ones we at Halton Women's Place see in regards to women expe- riencing abuse with their partner due to fear of leaving, fear of con- sequences and fear Me not being believed. If you have questions or need support in regards to sexual abuse and harass- ment, contact the crisis line at SAVIS 24hours aday at 905-875-1555 or their in- take line at 905-483-0722 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Carm Bozzo is the man- ager of development and communications for Hal- ton Women’s Place. She can be reached at choz- z0@haléonwomen- splace.com. PLEASE RECYCLE THIS NEWSPAPER AFTER USE WIND 5 & DOORS ¢ YOUR WINDOW & DOOR PROFESSIONALS « Visit our Showroom e Awarded Readers’ Choice 35 times ¢ theifp.ca 11 Mountainview Rd., N. Georgetown, ON L7G 4T3 ou can also reach us at: 905.873.0236 www.buy-wise.ca Tal cel oJ UNVEA WT] ox = Mer)