Coleraine's Consent

Despite the rise in media coverage afforded to the charges of sexual assault and rape throughout U.K. universities, Ulster University Coleraine has been running various campaigns to tackle any issues regarding consent amongst students.

This year alone, Ulster University's Students Union and Student Support has partnered with the PSNI in the launching of the #NoGreyZone myth-busting campaign. The aim, asserts Andrew McAnallen, UUSU Vice President for Campaigns and Communications, is to promote the message that any non-consensual sexual touching is rape.

As a part of a wide campaign launched by the NUS-USI, the UUSU and Student Support have aided in the promotion of the KNOw More sexual consent research; which surveys and examines the non-consensual experiences of students throughout Northern Ireland.  NUS-USI will be using the findings to influence legislative change, while also providing Ulster University with demonstrable evidence on non-consensual sexual activity and sexual violence.  The latter will also aid in substantiating the Student's Union Sexual Assault Policy, helping to lobby the University to implement the policy.

Starting on 11th February, Ulster University's Students Union is running a week-long Share the Love campaign.  Designed by NUI Galway, the campaign will feature SMART Consent Workshops that will be held across each of the four campuses.  The workshops will include peer-led discussion about consent in a bid to raise awareness of its definition, promoting positive consent and defeating the "grey areas" commonly associated with consent.

 The Share the Love campaign follows on from Ulster University's Love Week and SHAG Week campaigns.  McAnallen feels that these previous campaigns have achieved what is intended of them "to a certain extent".  However, the Student's Unions "work is far from finished in stimulating more discussion about sexual health and promoting positive consent - we must continue to defeat the taboo and stigma surrounding these topics".

Coleraine's SMART Consent Workshop will be held on Monday 18th February at 2pm.  To register email Sports President, Emma Bonner, on e.bonner@ulster.ac.uk.