Campus safety enhanced through #ULETHUNITE and new Toolkit app

trevor.kenney — Tue, 25 Nov 2014 21:58:38 +0000

As the world turns its attention to the United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism campaign, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge announces its #ULETHUNITE campaign and the introduction of a new mobile application designed to enhance campus safety.

The Engaging Young People to Prevent Violence against Women on Post-Secondary Campuses project, launched in November 2012 and funded by the Government of Canada Status of Women, has worked toward strengthening already existing campus services, promoting additional safety mechanisms and engaging students in an ongoing campaign of awareness and education about gender-based violence. #ULETHUNITE and the new ULethbridge Toolkit App are derivatives of that project.

“It’s exciting to be able to announce the successful completion of this project and to publicly launch the ULethbridge Toolkit App,” says Dr. Judith Lapadat, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s associate vice-president (students). “Two years ago we received a significant boost in the form of a $200,000 grant from the Government of Canada to implement mechanisms for preventing gender-based violence on campus. It has given us the opportunity to work closely with the YWCA Lethbridge District and the Sexual Violence Action Committee to ensure that we have an inclusive campus for all students.”

The new ULethbridge Toolkit App, available for free download in the App Store, contains valuable resources such as maps of campus, quick links to access Campus Security and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Safe Walk program.

The ULethbridge Toolkit App, available for free download in the App Store, contains valuable resources such as maps of campus, quick links to access Campus Security and the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ’s Safe Walk program as well as links to support resources both on and off campus. The app also has hot buttons to turn on your phone’s flashlight, call campus security or access 911 services, along with a host of other essential functions. In addition, there is information designed to spark a cultural shift in the way we think about sexual violence.

“What’s exciting about this initiative is that, from the start, it has been student driven,” says Kristine J. Cassie, Chief Executive Officer of YWCA Lethbridge District. “We identified from the beginning that it had to start with the students and they have been a part of developing every aspect of this campaign. Really, that’s the only way that it can be meaningful and sustainable.”

A student working group was organized early in the process and was instrumental in developing a comprehensive strategy around the prevention of sexual violence on campus. Out of that, the ULeth Toolkit App was developed. Building on this initiative, the #ULETHUNITE campaign was created. Its orange theme is inspired by the United Nations Secretary General’s campaign, UNiTE to End Violence Against Women, where everyone is invited to ‘Orange Their Neighbourhood’.

“The topic of sexual violence on campus can be difficult to talk about, so as a group we felt it was important to make information available to students in an accessible way,” says master’s candidate Brad Robertson, a member of the ULeth Toolkit Working Group. “We felt that an app took advantage of students’ technology driven lifestyles, while also potentially reaching a large audience.”

Over the next 16 days, a number of activities will take place on campus in concert with the 16 Days of Activism campaign to further raise awareness around the issue of sexual violence.

Federal funding spurs gender-based violence project

trevor.kenney — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 18:15:04 +0000

The Government of Canada Status of Women is funding a $195,892 project at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, part of a nearly $4 million investment nationwide, designed to implement mechanisms for preventing gender-based violence on campus.

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge, YWCA Lethbridge and District and the Sexual Violence Action Committee will collaborate on the project, one of 23 such initiatives being funded across the country.

"There is no place in our society for incidents of violence against women," says Jim Hillyer, Member of Parliament for the Lethbridge Constituency. "Our government is committed to providing the means necessary to create safe and inclusive communities across the country, and that begins by giving our students the opportunity to pursue their educational goals in a secure environment, with the support services they need to be successful."

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge continues to prioritize the creation of a healthy, supportive and collaborative environment for its students, and by working with partners such as the YWCA and the Sexual Violence Action Committee, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ further strengthens its connection to the southern Alberta community.

"This is an outstanding initiative that speaks to the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ's ongoing efforts to offer its students a safe and supportive campus atmosphere," says Judith Lapadat, the U of L's associate vice-president (students). "What's more is that this project is another example of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ working with community groups for the betterment, not only of our campus experience, but of society as a whole."

The project will be largely student driven and is designed to augment the U of L's already existing student services, promoting additional safety mechanisms and, most importantly, engaging the student population in an ongoing campaign of awareness and education about gender-based violence.

"We haven't yet determined the scope of the project because the direction for this must come from the students and the priorities that they identify," says Lapadat.

A safety audit of campus to determine areas of need related to risks associated with gender-based violence will set the stage for the implementation of the project, after which students will play a key role in setting the agenda for the development of points of action.

"Campus is home to many students; some of us live here, many of us meet friends and create new families here, and most of us launch and re-launch our lives here," says Danika Jorgensen, U of L student and co-ordinator for the Campus Women's Centre. "I'm incredibly excited that students will be front and centre in this campus directive, and I look forward to the opportunities it presents for students to be heard and to get involved with helping to maintain a safe campus atmosphere."

YWCA Lethbridge and District will play a key role in moving the project forward.

"We are overwhelmed by the support of Status of Women Canada to further our community's work in addressing gender-based violence," says Kristine J. Cassie, Chief Executive Officer. "The opportunity to partner with the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge and continue work with the Sexual Violence Action Committee creates the prospect to build a unique and student-driven initiative that is both meaningful and sustainable in addressing the impacts of gender-based violence on our community."

UNews - Sexual Violence Action Committee

Campus safety enhanced through #ULETHUNITE and new Toolkit app

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Federal funding spurs gender-based violence project

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