Sexual Assault Awareness Month
SAAM takes place every January to take action against sexualized violence. Each year, Sexualized Violence Prevention and Response (SVPR) collaborates with the Wellness Centre, the Writing Centre, the Office of TRU Student Life and other campus partners to engage faculty, staff, and students in educational opportunities.
Bystander Intervention
This year’s campaign will focus on the importance of bystander intervention. Throughout the month of January, we’ll focus our attention on building community, building skills and (re)building norms and values that uphold a safer campus culture.
We know that when people experience harm and ask for help, our responses matter. Victims/survivors who receive positive social responses are more likely to ask for help in the future, more likely to report in the future and recover more quickly from violence. TRU community members always ask how they can support our work, and this month we are asking folks to step up and learn how to intervene thoughtfully and safely. Other benefits of bystander intervention include:
- Reshaping our shared sense of what’s okay or appropriate on campus
- Strengthening our shared responsibility for creating and maintaining safety on campus
- Elevating our expectations of each other—what we do, what we say and how we do it
- Increasing our personal skills sets for responding to adversity and conflict
- Growing our awareness about how many great people exist on this campus who also want to create change and address harm
Follow @trustudentlife for posts about resources, events and bystander intervention skills. Don’t forget, TRU’s EDI office also offers excellent Active Bystander training. More information on their offerings can be found here.
SAAM 2026 Events
Throughout January, the TRU community is invited to participate in events designed to help them explore and celebrate their own acts of resistance—to adversity, oppression, injustice or gender-based violence. See below for more information on this month's events.
Community Building and Bystander Intervention Training for Peer Mentors
January 20, 4:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Are you a Peer Mentor or Ambassador? This event is just for you! You’re a leader on our campus, and that means other students see you as a role model and look to you for guidance. Over the course of this two-hour workshop, you’ll learn about TRU’s Sexualized Violence and Respectful Workplace and Harassment policies and the services offered by SVPR and Student Affairs for students experiencing violence, including bullying and harassment. We’ll also be talking about how to build the community we want, and what each of us brings to the table to our teams. Of course, you’ll also be learning about Bystander Intervention—using real life scenarios and small group discussion. Food will be provided.
Location: Old Main 2751
Note: Registration Required!
11th Annual Consent Tea
January 21, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
The Wellness Center is back with one of their most amazing events. All day on January 21st, they’ll be running a carnival-themed event with games and activities (and prizes!) - all centered on the topic of consent. This is a great opportunity to have some fun, learn, and build community.
Location: Student Street, Old Main
Student Street Tabling
January 22 & 29, 12:00 - 3:00 p.m.
Come meet SVPR Student Ambassadors Kelsey and Domenica! They’ll be offering resources, activities and giveaways.
Location: Student Street, Old Main
Buttons and Bystanders
January 28, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m.
In partnership with the Library and Makerspace, we are making buttons and learning how to be good bystanders! Learn about the SVPR office and how to intervene thoughtfully and safely. Popcorn and button making supplies provided. This is a drop in event, no need to register.
Location: TRU Makerspace (HOL, behind Tim Hortons)
