As new students prepare to orient themselves to the university lifestyle, the Tasmania University Union (TUU) has launched a campaign which seeks to raise awareness around on-campus sexual harassment and assault.
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The Never OK campaign promotes the message there is “zero tolerance” for misogynistic behaviour at the University of Tasmania.
The TUU said Never OK would “call on the University of Tasmania to change its practices [regarding] the induction and orientation of new students, to alert them … [to] the processes and policies around sexual harassment and assault”.
TUU president Clark Cooley said the campaign’s message was vital.
“We’ve got to make it clear that there is a zero tolerance policy when it comes to this issue,” Mr Cooley said.
UTAS deputy research vice-chancellor Brigid Heywood said UTAS did, indeed, alert students to the university’s sexual harassment and assault policies.
“We seek always to improve what we do, and this includes education, providing reporting avenues and support services,” Professor Heywood said.
Launceston Bachelor of Education student and Never OK spokeswoman Jessica Robinson, meanwhile, said students needed to feel comfortable with the idea of approaching an on-campus councillor if they felt in any way traumatised.
“For us, it’s [about] breaking that down so that stigma doesn’t cause people to turn away,” Ms Robinson said.
She said instances of sexual assault and harassment did not have to be extreme to cause victims suffering.
“It’s even just the little things,” Ms Robinson said.
“And it’s those little things that then escalate when people don’t know when to say, ‘That’s not OK’.
“I just think that every little bit helps, and every person that can stand up for such a campaign is already making a difference.”
Universities Australia began conducting its nation-wide ‘Respect. Now. Always.’ survey in 2016, in which UTAS is a participant.
The results of the survey will provide Australian universities with information regarding the prevalence of campus sexual assault and harassment.
If you have been made to feel unsafe on-campus in Launceston, contact security on 6324 3336, or call 1800 817 675 to arrange to speak with a counsellor.