'Consent means choice': UPEISU initiative hopes to reach more students

Consent is the word of the week at UPEI, with pub coasters and posters about consent as well as a number of discussions and workshops being held for the school's second annual consent week.

"I'd say the openness of people's minds has changed a lot. It's something that they're more willing to discuss," saidSarahMacEachern, vice-president of student life at the UPEIStudent Union.

MacEachern said the goal this year was to better include LGBT students and theschool'sgrowing international population in the initiative.

"We wanted to make sure that the vocabulary we were using was easily understood to those who may not speak English as a first language," she said.

'Let your voice be heard'

"We're just ensuring that people know that consent means choice. Choice is a word that a lot of people can understand as opposed to consent."

Second year international student AnjolaSuleman took part in the initiative for the first time, and wrote a letter to support survivors of sexual assault.

"I wrote about voice it's good to let your voice be heard. It's good to share your story."

Partnered with Pride

The student union also partnered with Pride UPEI to ensure LGBT students were included.

Pride UPEI co-leader Buzz Caravan said she'snoticed that theuniversity has become more inclusive over time.

"Each year I feel like they've grown and included more things so I really hope it continues to grow and getbetter, and I believe it will."

MacEachernsaid the student union plansto partner with Our Turn UPEI, a nationalstudent group focused on sexual violence prevention, to develop further programs around consent on campus.

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