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Ask First project

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Ask First is a project to build a culture of respect at the University of Calgary, and tear down myths about consent and sexual violence. Together we create an environment where people are empowered to set their own boundaries, feel safe reporting sexual assault or harassment and can access resources and a community of support.

Ask First promotes a consent-based approach to sexual assault prevention, with the goal of ensuring that students know that assault is never the fault of the victim, but only occurs when an offender chooses to disregard the victim’s consent.

rejection resilience

About Ask First

Ask First is now in its second phase with an ongoing commitment to:

  • Creating a campus community free from harassment, discrimination and violence.
  • Addressing and challenging harmful attitudes and belief systems that manifest into sexual violence; and how these systems perpetuate a continuum of violence, including sexual violence.
  • Fostering leadership and empowering students to create change in their own communities by instilling a sense of self-awareness, shared responsibility and understanding of how toxic misconceptions blur boundaries.

More about Ask First

The Facts

  • In Canada, fewer than one in ten instances of sexual assault are reported *
  • One in four women in North America will be sexually assaulted *
  • 39% of Canadian women report at least one incident of sexual assault since the age of 16 *
  • In 80% of sexual assaults the accused is known by the victim*
  • Only one in three Canadians understand what consent is **

Sources:
*  Statistics Canada

** The Canadian Women’s Foundation independent study

Get the facts

Reach out

On Campus

  • Campus Security
    403-220-5333
  • Sexual Violence Support Advocate
    403-220-2208

Off Campus

  • 9-1-1
  • Calgary Communities Against Sexual Abuse
    403-237-5888 (24 hours)

Reach out for support

Ask First: Creating a Culture of Consent, is a three-year project launched in Fall 2015 by the Women’s Resource Centre, University of Calgary, in collaboration with the Consent Awareness and Sexual Education Club. It aims to create a campus culture where victim blaming is no longer tolerated and the concept of consent is understood and practiced in the community so all students feel safe and respected.

This project is funded by the Students’ Union Quality Money.