Sudbury

College Boreal launches campaign to prevent sexual harassment and violence

Sudbury's College Boreal wants people to start thinking about sexual harassment.

Province has mandated that all post-secondary schools create protocol, campaign to address sexual harassment

Sexual assault victimization rates are five times higher for women under the age of 35. The province has asked post-secondary institutes to come up with ways to address this issue. College Boreal in Sudbury is one of the most recent schools to jump on board. (Olivia Stefanovich/CBC)

Sudbury's College Boreal wants people to start thinking about sexual harassment.

Posters depicting various scenarios are being put up across campus as part of a new campaign aimed at challenging the myths about sexual violence and the role of bystanders.

School advisor Jacqueline Gauthier says the posters provide real-life examples.

"It actually just puts together some dilemmas that students and people might be faced with, such as a coach of a team is accused of sexually harassing one of the athletes. [The poster states] 'Do you still support the team?'"

College Boreal is one of the latest post-secondary schools to launch a campaign against sexual harassment and violence.

College Boreal advisor Jacqueline Gauthier says people don't always realize that they are participating in sexual harassment or that they could prevent it. (Olivia Stefanovich/CBC)

College Boreal student Patrick Monette supports the campaign, and says it's important to tackle matters like sexual consent.

"This problem is becoming more and more realistic," he said.

"So I think it's important that the college is stepping forward to face this problem [and] make sure everyone is safe on campus."

College Boreal is also developing a website where people can file sexual harassment complaints.

Cambrian College already has a similar site.

Laurentian University outlines its violence prevention strategy and response on its website.

With files from Olivia Stefanovich. Edited and packaged by Wendy Bird.