Can I Kiss You?: Sexual consent for safe relationships

Do you know what healthy sexual consent looks like?

As the national conversation about sexual consent gains attention, the University of Waterloo community is being invited to a talk that will give people skills for healthy sexual decision making.

The University’s Equity Office is hosting award-winning author and presenter Mike Domitrz on Tuesday October 6. The talk, entitled: Can I Kiss You will cover healthy dating, consent, bystander intervention and sexual assault awareness.

“Mike is known for his unique ability to connect with people in an entertaining way,” says Director of Equity Mahejabeen Ebrahim. “He’s a speaker who can engage people in important conversations about sexual consent with humour rather than fear.”

Registration is open for sexual consent talk

Registration is open for the talk to be held at Federation Hall at 3:50 pm. University of Waterloo’s President and Vice-Chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur will deliver opening remarks.

“All of our gender equity initiatives are built upon a foundation of safety and security for everyone,” says Hamdullahpur. “Everything we do to create positive, safe, inclusive conditions for our community members puts us in better alignment with our values. What’s more, it puts us closer to achieving our goal of being the most innovative university in the world.

The talk is just part of the University of Waterloo’s ongoing work on issues of gender equity. Earlier this year, Waterloo accepted an invitation from UN Women to be part of the HeForShe IMPACT 10x10x10 campaign. HeForShe is a global effort to remove the social and cultural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving their potential.

Working group on sexual assault prevention and awareness

Through the Equity Office, the University of Waterloo has also established a working group on awareness and prevention of sexual violence. The working group, which is currently looking at education and training for students, staff and faculty, reports to the Provost's Advisory Committee on Equity (PACE).

PACE includes representatives from all stakeholders on campus and is mandated to consult and collaborate on equity work on campus to ensure the needs of the diverse Waterloo community are being served.

Equity is a strategic priority at Waterloo

“This is a strategic priority, says Ian Orchard, vice-president, academic and provost. “We care about a safe, inclusive and respectful campus for everyone and we are consistently working to strengthen and enhance our efforts in this area.”

Ebrahim said there will be opportunities for campus stakeholders to collaborate on fostering a safe and inclusive campus. Members of the university community can always reach out to PACE representatives through student, faculty and staff associations or contact the Equity Office directly.

“We are aspiring to our highest values when we do this work,” says Ebrahim. “It’s in line with Canadian values, legislation and the vision we have of ourselves.”