SHAPES

GETTING INTO SHAPES!

Congratulations to the 33 UNE students who in early February completed the 2009 SHAPES weekend training program. The training is a prerequisite to becoming a SHAPES Representative or “Rep”. SHAPES stands for Sexual Harassment & Assault Peer Education and Support. Students representing each of the 8 colleges/residences on campus came to UNE a week before the academic year had even started, in order to devote a full two days to becoming more aware of what constitutes sexual harassment and assault, what causes it, how to challenge it, how to educate their peers, and how to support students who may experience forms of sexual harassment or assault within the University community. These students were well and truly “in shape” to ensure that new students coming into the UNE community during orientation week were aware of the SHAPES program and of what is or isn’t OK behaviour to expect from one another.

Joan Anderson and Annette Stevenson, both counsellors within UNE Student Assist, facilitated the SHAPES training program which is sponsored by the UNE Residential System. Students had the opportunity to use role-play, videos, as well as small and large group discussion, to explore how they can be effective SHAPES Reps.

Why do we have SHAPES at UNE? Unfortunately, just like in other communities, sexual harassment and sexual assault do occur in our UNE community. The SHAPES philosophy recognizes that peer education is the most effective way to influence change in attitudes and behaviours. Students are more likely to take notice and listen to each other rather than “experts” or older people telling them about these issues.

The 33 new Reps bring the total number of Reps in what is now second semester 2009 to 49. What this means is that each residence has a team of Reps who can work together to promote the ethos of the SHAPES program. It also means that students wishing to contact a SHAPES Rep have choice as to who they approach. Students needing the support of a Rep do not have to live within a campus residence. They can contact any of the college reps listed on this blog under the page “Current Reps”. Students living on campus can also contact a Rep from another college/residence for support. Regardless of which Rep you contact, all Reps sign a Code of Conduct which stipulates the need to maintain confidentiality.

You can contact a SHAPES Rep via email, phone or in person* (* within the campus residences). If you are still not sure who to contact and how, feel free to ring the SHAPES Coordinator, Annette Stevenson, at UNE Student Assist on 6773 2897.