{"id":58683,"date":"2019-08-12T12:38:32","date_gmt":"2019-08-12T16:38:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsroom.carleton.ca\/?post_type=cu_story&p=58683"},"modified":"2025-10-15T10:55:40","modified_gmt":"2025-10-15T14:55:40","slug":"sexual-violence-champions-change","status":"publish","type":"cu_story","link":"https:\/\/carleton.ca\/news\/story\/sexual-violence-champions-change\/","title":{"rendered":"Champions for Change Tackle Sexual Violence"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Champions for Change Tackle Sexual Violence\n <\/h1>\n \n <\/header>\n <\/div>\n\n \n <\/path>\n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/div>\n\n \n\n <\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n

Carleton University has launched a unique sexual consent training program for varsity athletes and coaches – Champions for Change<\/em> \u2013 which considers them leaders and an important part of the solution to sexual harassment and violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bailey Reid, Carleton\u2019s sexual assault support coordinator, co-created the innovative program with JR LaRose<\/a>, a retired CFL champion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The two conducted workshops for 11 athletes from various sports teams on Aug. 7 to 9, 2019, which ignited conversations about intersectionality, rape mythology, masculinity, victim blaming, and alcohol and consent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Champions
Bailey Reid<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The training is providing athletes with tools to develop intervention strategies in cases of sexual harassment and violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reid says she and LaRose partner every year to provide sexual consent training for the Ottawa RedBlacks. This year, Kwesi Loney, Raven\u2019s men\u2019s soccer coach, suggested they take it to the next level at Carleton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAfter one of the training sessions, LaRose suggested creating a space where the athletes could actually talk, have a conversation and ask questions,\u201d Reid says.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cI\u2019ve dedicated the rest of my life to speaking about gender-based violence and sexual violence,\u201d LaRose says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cFor me, being a former athlete, I understand the importance of a student athlete being involved in creating that culture shift, especially here at Carleton.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

\"Champions<\/figure>\n\n\n

Champions for Change Aims to Shift Cultural Norms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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LaRose says that student athletes have a lot of power and with that comes the ability to change cultural norms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe solutions that the students are coming up with are a breath of fresh air and (it\u2019s great) knowing that there are people out there who want to be part of the solution.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Loney, who played a major role in developing the program, says that he is very proud of Carleton\u2019s support of such a critical topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Champions
JR LaRose<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cChampions for Change<\/em> is providing a forum for our students to not only express themselves openly and honestly, but also empowering them to become the catalyst for real change within our student body and outside communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tawnya Guindon, an alumna and former women\u2019s hockey captain who is joining the hockey team as assistant coach for the 2019-2020 season, joined the workshop to learn more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cKnowing what to do when sexual violence happens will really help the victim pull through,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s not something we like to talk about, but it\u2019s something that we absolutely have to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cedric Theriault is a second-year student on the football team who believes in the ability of athletes to challenge sexual violence on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cI believe the football team is a big piece of campus and I think we can really change the culture among varsity athletes,\u201d Theriault says.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

\u201cWe need to be aware of issues outside the field and now we know how to intervene when we are at the bar, around campus, or when we hear bad locker room talk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n

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Elevating Conversations About Sexual Violence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

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Maz Atta, a recent Journalism graduate, was on the water polo team for three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cFrom my own experiences, I have seen others refer to women in vulgar terms and talk about sexual assault as a joke. I thought it was a big problem,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\u201cI used to be the person who just ignored it, but then I realized I can\u2019t be quiet anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

In April, Carleton\u2019s Board of Governors<\/a> passed a revised Sexual Violence Policy<\/a> which commits to a \u201cpositive learning, working and living environment where sexual violence will not be tolerated and is treated with the seriousness it deserves.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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