ADVOCATES
FOR A
STUDENT CULTURE OF CONSENT
WHO WE ARE
Advocates for a Student Culture of Consent (ASCC—pronounced “ask”) is an intersectional feminist, activist collective that is passionate about ending sexual violence. ASCC is an LSPIRG community research + action group. It's important to us that you know many of us are survivors of sexual and gendered violence, we are sex-positive, anti-colonial, anti-oppressive and pro-choice, we support sex workers, and we're allies and members of the queer and trans communities.
WHAT WE DO
Since 2014, ASCC has been organizing community events, conducting community-based research, facilitating public education and ran Consent is Golden from 2014-2018. We speak about consent, supporting survivors, policy advocacy, sex positivity and LGBTQ2S+ inclusivity--whether that be at academic conferences or in the community. We are most active in Brantford and Kitchener-Waterloo.
HOW WE BEGAN
ASCC began when a group of students recognized the reality of rape culture in Ontario universities, and were inspired to create a culture of consent at Laurier and beyond. We analyzed all sexual violence policies in Ontario and found that most were not following the Ontario Women's Directorate's comprehensive recommendations. Dismayed by our results, we approached Laurier's senior administration and worked with the Gendered Violence Task Force for a couple years to create WLU's first-ever Gendered Violence Policy. Over the years, our policy work has broadened to include advocacy for both bottom-up and top-down change. While we all began as Laurier student activists, we have since strengthened our connections with off-campus organizations and community members.
ASCC is a research & action group of Laurier Students' Public Interest Research Group (LSPIRG). LSPIRG is an incorporated not-for-profit organization that is independent from Wilfrid Laurier University. LSPIRG advocates for social and environmental justice by organizing with and serving both students and community members. We are grateful for the funding this anti-oppressive organization provides us, which supplements the other funds we receive such as part of the provincial Women's Safety Grant.