1 Feb 2016

Loughborough launches first ever ‘Consent Week’

Consent Week provides students and staff the opportunity to take part in a number of discussion-based activities, with the intention of increasing awareness of the issues surrounding consent.

The week’s events have been developed collaboratively between LSU Welfare & Diversity section, and members of the University’s Sexual Politics Research Groups Network (SPRIG). It will include a number of consent workshop sessions, led by VP Welfare & Diversity Gemma Lomas and LSU Women’s Officer Carys Page. There will also be discussion sessions hosted by University Professors.

One of the key events of the week is the screening of The Hunting Ground, a documentary exposing the issue of sexual assaults on US campuses, directed by Kirby Dick. This will be followed by a discussion panel with a number of key Student Union and University representatives, including the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Robert Allison.

The week will be rounded off with the Caravan Theatre performing their short play ‘Can’t Touch This’ which focuses on sexual harassment and consent.

Following Consent Week, both the Students’ Union and University will be looking to continue raising awareness, opening discussion and developing long-term policy around consent and safe spaces.

Over the coming months, the LSU Executive and LSU’s Women’s Network, working with the SPRIG Network, will be taking the consent workshops to the Halls of Residence for students to attend.

Professor Marsha Meskimmon of the SPRIG Network comments: “This is a major initiative for Loughborough, designed to realise the University as an inclusive, yet diverse, community where respect for individuals is central to our policies as well as to our everyday actions”.

Consent Week will run from 1-7 February. Click here to view events.