By Maeve O’Keeffe UCC’s Bystander Intervention Programme is, by nature, focused on changing attitudes and behaviours here on campus, and empowering bystanders and witnesses of inappropriate actions to speak out and intervene when safe to do so. As the programme grows, however, there has been an increased appetite for adaptations of the programme for other…
By Maeve O’Keeffe On the 21st and 22nd of February, UCC’s WiSTEM society hosted a workshop as part of Women’s Aid’s “Too Into You” campaign, followed by a talk with Mary Hayes, Project Leader of the “Too Into You” campaign. While some of the topics covered in Mary Hayes’s pertinent and insightful talk have been…
Maeve O’Keeffe (MOK): The murder of Ashling Murphy has been described as a watershed moment in prompting discussions about violence against women. How can we collectively ensure that this tragic event is a catalyst for change, and not just a news story that dies away after a couple of weeks? Louise Crowley (LC): Historically, that…
By Maeve O’Keeffe As the new semester begins, you might feel motivated to ‘hit the ground running’ with college work. One new year’s resolution definitely worth your time before your academic timetable gets too hectic is the participation in the Bystander Intervention programme. The time and effort needed to complete bystander intervention training is minimal,…
By Maeve O’Keeffe This article contains mentions of Image-Based Sexual Abuse. If you feel that at any point you may be triggered please refrain from reading this article. We have also listed supports at the end of this article. Image based sexual abuse (IBSA) is defined as the non-consensual creation and/or distribution of private sexual…
By Maeve O’Keeffe This article contains topics of sexual harassment, sexual violence and assault. Please skip this article if you feel you may be triggered. We have listed supports at the end of this article. Durham University in England has recently faced backlash after a social media campaign warning students that “Drink Spiking is dangerous…
By Imasha Costa Not knowing about a place could be scary, not understanding what a service or an organisation does could also make it even more terrifying. Today’s Bystander features an interview with Margo Noonan, Head of the Sexual Assault Treatment Unit (SATU) in Cork. SATU is renowned for its discretion for victims of sexual…
By Maeve O’Keeffe The new #unmuteconsent campaign has just been launched in partnership with the Higher Education Authority, Irish Universities Association, Technical Higher Education Association, and Union of Students in Ireland. This important campaign aims to recognise and amplify student voices in driving change against sexual harassment and violence on college campuses. It is assumed…
By Maeve O’Keeffe An unfortunate reality of university life at present is the prevalence of sexual assault. According to a 2020 study of sexual experiences, 29% of females, 10% of males and 28% of non-binary students reported non-consensual penetration during their time in college. A 2018 survey completed in NUIG reveals staggering percentages of students…