The statistics frighten us. We should learn to protect ourselves.
Participant 1: [The policy] is very important. We have to know how to protect ourselves as students.
Participant 2: Because the statistics frighten us- one of the six females will be a victim. So it's very important to know about the sexual policy.
Participant 3: Many students are allowed to drink alcohol on campus, so they may be drunk and do something wrong. [...] We should learn how to protect ourselves against sexual assault.
Recommendations
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Display QR codes providing immediate access to on- and off-campus supports and policy information in high-traffic areas on campus.
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Ensure all sexual violence prevention and response education and training opportunities actively deconstruct victim-blaming, rape myths and gender norms. Ensure these sessions take an intersectional approach to understanding sexual violence and supporting victim/survivors.
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Ensure educational materials and initiatives explore relationships between sexual violence and drugs/alcohol. These materials should be mindful of pressures to over-consume and the fact that some international students are unfamiliar with drinking culture. Ensure and/or highlight the fact that no student who discloses or reports sexual assault will be penalized for substance use related to the incident in question.
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Ensure the policy is prominently situated and easy to locate on the university website.
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Use multiple formats to deliver accessible education about the SV/SA policy during orientation and at least once per semester