The Flinders University Student Association (FUSA) are running an important campaign over the next few weeks called “Be A Better Human“.
In a previous post, Zoe from our team reported on her experience of attending the launch of the program.
The campaign is in response to the Australian Human Rights Commission Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment At Australian Universities (2017).
The report found that 1 in 5 students were sexually harassed in a university setting and 1.6% of students were sexually assaulted in a university setting.
And, apologies for the swearing, but that is bulls*%t – University should be a place where we can feel safe and respected.
Not the type of organisation to sit back and do nothing, FUSA are going big time on this, creating a range of resources, events and opportunities for all of us in the Flinders University community to own the problem and start making positive changes.
I know it can be tempting to say to yourself “this issue isn’t really about me” or something similar.
But we all have a role to play, whether it is changing our own behaviour, or being a better advocate and support for people affected by sexual assault and harassment.
So peruse the activities below and make a commitment, even if just a small one, to participating in this important campaign.
Activity 1 – read & learn
FUSA have developed some excellent reading materials covering the topics of consent, sexual assault and harassment, rape culture, and bystander behaviour. You might think you know all this stuff, but I am confident you probably don’t. I didn’t. Get access to all the readings by clicking this sentence.
Or click here to get the pdf booklet.
Activity 2 – watch
FUSA are holding two film screenings on the 8th and 9th of May at the Multimedia Lounge on the ground floor of the hub. On the 8th is ‘Flirting with Danger’, a film exploring the line between consent and coercion. On the 9th is ‘The Mask You Live In”, a doco by Jennifer Siebel Newsom following the lives of young men as they navigate definitions of masculinity.
They’ve also prepared some custom video content of their own, cause they are spesh.
Activity 3 – discuss
On May 10th, FUSA are holding a ‘Be A Better Human Q&A’ at Alere Function Centre (The Hub, Level 2). Topics include navigation relationships, sexual consent, coping with harassment, the #metoo movement and more. Panelists include Hoa Nguyen (Yarrow Place), Lud Allen (Sexual Health Counselling and Education services) and Lucy Hackworth (ShineSA, YWCA).
Activity 4 – promote
FUSA love social media. They are all over it. Facebook, Instagram, even a slightly neglected Twitter account. They’ll be posting content on all those channels during the campaign. Even if you are the laziest good-for-nothing in the universe, you can still share and promote their content. I promise it will give you the tiniest dopamine hit.
If you are feeling really lazy, you can just share this post
Activity 5 – wear
FUSA are selling underwear. Yes, you read that correctly. For the sake of all humankind, I decided not to model the underwear on this blog.
To learn more about the broader Safety On Campus programs, visit https://www.flinders.edu.au/current-students/safety-on-campus. This includes avenues for reporting for those of you who have been affected by sexual assault or harassment and are thinking about making a report.