University of Winnipeg unveils sexual misconduct protocol

The University of Winnipeg is launching a series of workshops on sexual assault and consent as students head back to classes this week.

"I think it was necessary to develop a long time ago," said the UWSA's status of women director Kelby Loeppky. "I think it's great we've done it, but just with the prevalence of rape culture, especially on campuses in North America."

It's the first time students are getting acquainted with the U of W's sexual misconduct protocol, called Sex: Ask First: Ask Always.

The protocol and workshops look at what consent is and how to get in touch with the university's new sexual misconduct response team, which offers a 24-hour help line for students who may have been assaulted or have seen an assault take place.

Tea video breaks down consent

Part of the programming is serving tea to students and showing a video that compares consent to offering tea.

The popular video was released earlier this year by a blogger and Blue Seat Studios. It went viral and used simple stick animations and a blog post from RockstarDinosaurPiratePrincess to explain how to get consent and when it can be given.

"If you're still struggling with consent, just imagine instead of initiating sex, you're making them a cup of tea," the video begins.

• On mobile? Click here to see the Tea and Consent video

Then it plays through several scenarios, explaining you shouldn't pour tea down someone's throat if they're passed out or if someone decides later on they no longer want the tea they had initially agreed to have.

"If they're unconscious, don't make them tea. Unconscious people don't want tea, and they can't answer the question, 'Do you want tea?' because they're unconscious," the narrator says.

A recent study from the Canadian Women's Foundationfound that only one in three Canadians know what sexual consent means.

"I think men are taking advantage of women because they may say yes, but they may be drunk and that's not consent," said U of W student Angeline Rivard. "You cannot give consent if you aren't mentally sound to give consent, and I think that's definitely a problem on campus."

Stigma against reporting sex assault persists

The video is just a part of the university's programming this year to combat sexual assault on campus and provide services for victims.

The sexual assault protocol was another important step for the university, according toLoeppky.

"I know universities have often left it alone and said, 'That's only something the police deal with,'" said Loeppky, whohelped develop the protocol. "I do think this has increased the visibility and also attempting to change the culture on campus as well."

From 2009 to 2013, seven sexual assaults were reported to the University of Winnipeg.

But Jan Byrd, the university's wellness and student life director, said the university's administrators are aware that sexual assaults on campus are underreported.

"There's stigma around reporting. It's not easy to talk about these. The first response you get after disclosure really has an impact on how you heal and move forward," said Byrd.

The workshops will reach out to first year students, students living in residences, athletes, coaches and staff.

"It is likely that universities will see a rise in the numbers of disclosures, and that's not because, likely, there are more sexual assaults happening, but it's because we're making it easier for students to talk about," said Byrd.

Information can found on the university's website at uwinnipeg.ca/askfirst.