Thread by @tharry, 1/ Delighted to see that firm actions planned following launch of national [...]

Dr Tracey Harrington 💙 #Washhands #WearMask

1/ Delighted to see that firm actions planned following launch of national survey results https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/smartconsent/Sexual-Experiences-Survey-2020.pdf well done to all involved @PMacneela @LouiseCrowley2 @Lornafitz3 @NWCI https://twitter.com/SimonHarrisTD/status/1288099975944187904

2/ Very happy @DCU @DaireKeogh (our new President) has already taken steps to address #Sexualharassment #Sexualviolence on campus @DCUSU @DCU_EDI @annelooney @SanHealy @ItStopsNow_EU

3/I want to share the story of one lecturer’s experiences in her involvement with getting #Consent on the agenda at 3rd level- one of the backstories behind this progressive movement

4/ For many years I have worked closely with DCUSU’s Welfare Officers, Lorna (2013-2014) being the 1st one I spoke to. She suggested I meet #Jessie- fab nurse working in #StudentServices

5/Meetings these key contacts for u/g students allowed me gather info on actual student life. As a regular visitor to my old school where I provide #sexualhealth talks, I wanted to know what college students would like to have known b4 college

6/ A common theme emerged- general dissatisfaction with #SexEd provided in secondary school @debbieging No surprises really. In fact @DrOhiggi published in 2010 https://bit.ly/3hKz1ol But I also became aware that #studentlife was more complicated than I imagined

Youth participation in setting the agenda: learning outcomes for sex education in Ireland

(2010). Youth participation in setting the agenda: learning outcomes for sex education in Ireland. Sex Education: Vol. 10, The ABC of sex and relationships education: approaches, benefits, constrai...

https://bit.ly/3hKz1ol

7/ And results of this latest survey reveal the darker side to #studentlife - hence importance of #research #LoveIrishResearch https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/smartconsent/Sexual-Experiences-Survey-2020.pdf

8/ Having #evidence enables #action to be taken to #rectify the serious problem. Life in Uni's #reflect #society at large- worryingly @CoerciveCtrl_IE @Noeline_B

9/Higher & further education institute r uniquely placed to demonstrate #leadership 2 tackle #sexualharassment & #violence #implementing #zerotolerance #culture & #preventative measures that can drive long term societal change needed to ensure #allwomen are safe @OrlaNWCI

10/Previously #College papers highlighted this dark side http://collegetribune.ie/ucd-facebook-chat-rating-and-sharing-girls-photos-who-they-have-slept-with-highlights-toxic-lad-culture/ http://www.universitytimes.ie/2014/11/investigation-into-rape-at-trinity-hall-concludes-without-charge/

Investigation into Rape at Trinity Hall Concludes Without Charge

http://collegetribune.ie/ucd-facebook-chat-rating-and-sharing-girls-photos-who-they-have-slept-with-highlights-toxic-lad-culture/

11/ Back in 2016 My wonderful student @Ciaraja & I had been in talks with the then @DCUSU #WelfareOfficer #DomhnaillHarkin discussing conducting a #ConsentSurvey similar to other colleges- but we had to delay as other surveys planned

12/ on positive side #DrSiobhanOHiggins @DrOhiggi told us about their wonderful #Consent #Research being carried out @nuigalway @ @PMacneela @ebyrnesNUIG & of plans to develop workshops- so good news!

13/ and we needed a plan as evidence continued to mount http://www.universitytimes.ie/2015/01/tcdsu-launch-sexual-consent-survey/?doing_wp_cron=1454626405.9137630462646484375000 worrying figures of #unwantedsexualcontact

TCDSU Launch Sexual Consent Survey

http://www.universitytimes.ie/2015/01/tcdsu-launch-sexual-consent-survey/?doing_wp_cron=1454626405.9137630462646484375000

14/ Spoke with the fab #DrClaireBohan intro of initiatives to counter this such as #Consent Workshops

15/ Timing is everything - July 2017 see the Launch of #SmartConsentWorkshopsReport https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/studentservices/SMART-Consent-Workshop-Report-Summary-WEB.pdf
So now @PadraigHenry & I have a plan! First time 2 meet @AnTaobhRua @DamienMcclean @RoisinODonovan5

16/ New staff member & fellow nurse @SineadMcGrath_ was also very passionate about getting something in place- #greatminds and all! @The_ISHA

17/ Thereafter #DCUSMARTConsent team was formed with great support from #DrBohan & #DCUSU

18/Sept 2017- #TraintheTrainer workshops took place in DCU- Of course as ever, with enigmatic @DrOhiggi in the house the sessions were fun, energetic & engaging. Even made @PMacneela blush at times!

19/ Volunteers ready (ish) now all we needed was students to sign up to attend! And with @DCUSU & @PadraigHenry on the case, what started out small, increased dramatically

20/ Practice sessions with fellow trainers #critical! Two students to one staff was our plan- has to be at the new student’s level- coming from their peers- us oldies along to learn a bit!

@thomasdorian98 @R3b3cca_C @SineadMcGrath_

21) Signs up/ #socialmedia on full blast- there was a real buzz & excitement around- ok- it may have been nerves! #SnapChat to alert room last minute room changes- sure it was all go!

22/ Sessions ran so well & were lots of fun! Coaxing students to dab when dab no longer cool is fun, but perseverance pays off!

23/ They may have come for the pizzas but they stayed for the comradery comedy & the serious understanding that #NomeansNo & it is ok & critical to #AskConsent. College life is supposed to be fun but we can easily get out of our depth.

24/ We discussed issues such as #poorcommunication #culture of #bingedrinking #mixing #drugs & #alcohol #miscommunication #misunderstanding #misreading #BodyLanguage

25/ emphasised facts: your right- always- to decide what to do and not to do – #yourbody- #yourchoice #respect
& #consent is #OMFG @ActiveConsent

26/ & our young people got it- coming into college just as #MeToo

7 positive changes that have come from the #MeToo movement

The impact of the movement goes far beyond powerful men losing their jobs.

https://www.vox.com/identities/2019/10/4/20852639/me-too-movement-sexual-harassment-law-2019

27/ the original #MeToo

movement began 2006 @TaranaBurke & now (2017) more people were willing to #speakout @LouiseCrowley2 #Sexualharassment #sexualassults https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/me-too-founder-tarana-burke-discusses-where-we-go-from-here/

Me Too founder Tarana Burke discusses where we go from here

Activist and Me Too founder Tarana Burke will receive Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership Gleitsman Award for her work.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/02/me-too-founder-tarana-burke-discusses-where-we-go-from-here/

28/ this #gen will challenge- they will not accept #racism #sexism #homophobia #transphobia & #sexualviolence-

29/ Feedback was good- workshops were successful- Conversations were started #ConsentisCritical #AskConsent https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=BrPrAoGQzRI&feature=emb_logoed
@evelyn_orourke

30/ cut 2 later in Sem2 & focus groups with researchers from @nuigalway @PMacneela @CharlotteMcIvor @DrOhiggi & workshop attendees @mayme_liz 2 discuss ideas 4 more #SMARTConsent initiatives #GalwayGetsIt & now #DCUDigsIt inspiration from @sorcham12 (pun on an dtuigeann tú?!)

31/ @DCU #QuID funding enabled us to (students & me) to make some #Ed videos and they rather eye-catching badges!

32/ @DublinRCC & @TheUSI started using the " #AskConsent" hashtag which we thought was good too- and already established

33/ The success of #SmartConsent was replicated in other colleges-Launch of SMART Consent Research https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/smartconsent/SMART-Consent-Report-2018-web-.pdf @PMacneela@DrOhiggi #CharlotteMcIvor

34/ great to meet @LouiseCrowley2 & @sineadring & Learn more about @BystanderUcc - in partnership with #SMARTConsent this is the perfect fit

35/Aug 2018 –my birthday- great news from VP Academic Affairs- DCU to support the mainstreaming of this programme under the broader Staff/Student Health and Wellbeing Programme, in partnership with the Students’ Union. Further confirmation of its success

36/ January 2019 Active* Consent programme was launched at NUI Galway / March 2019,

37/ #ESHTE conference https://itstopsnow.org/index.php/en/news/it-stops-now-conference-takes-place-dublin

39/ April 2019 @mitchelloconnor launched the Framework for Consent in Higher Education Institutions. https://twitter.com/merrionstreet/status/1114109493892325377?s=20

https://twitter.com/merrionstreet/status/1114109493892325377?s=20

40/ June 2020/ https://www.nuigalway.ie/media/smartconsent/Sexual-Experiences-Survey-2020.pdf

41/ So we have arrived with an action plan- NB to acknowledge all the people who contributed & supported initiatives- esp the #students themselves who pushed 4 change- to protect other students in the future @AnTaobhRua @DamienMcclean @ishamcdonnell @PadraigHenry @aislingfagan_

42/ and all the lovely ones who helped with vids design ideas & showed me I was right to have faith in them! #youthquake @sorcham12 @thomasdorian98 @mayme_liz @R3b3cca_C @jim_hickson @rob0tham @ishamcdonnell @femsocDCU @Clarabkelly @AreYou_Caden_Me @BurkeVito @siobhnic @DCULGBTA

43/ and why did I get involved in the first place?! Simple- for all the young ones heading to the big mad world of university life. it should be an amazing experience- not one that is marred by an event that could & should have been prevented.