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As college and university students continue to celebrate Frosh week there is an important statistic they should know. Two thirds of sexual assaults on campus happen within the first eight weeks of school. It’s called the red zone and health care officials and support groups are working together to spread the word.
“Folks are new. They don’t have their usual support systems and there is a lot of alcohol involved and alcohol is the number one date rape drug.” Erin Crickett, sexual assault centre.
The message isn’t to not drink it’s to be responsible and stick to the buddy system.
“Sexual assault can be a crime of opportunity and needs to happen in isolation so if a group stays together it’s not as easy to have an assault to occur.” Diana Tikasz, Hamilton Health Sciences.
As the saying goes, no means no. Everyone agrees that knowing your sexual intentions and limits and communicating them clearly is key to preventing sexual assault. SACHA is the sexual assault centre in Hamilton and there are centres all over the province. They want you to know that the 24 hour support line isn’t just for survivors, friends and family can also call to ask how they can help.
