ASA photo essay targeting sexual assault released

ASA has organised a photo essay surrounding consent and sexual assault for Consent Awareness Week.

Students spoke out about ending stigma surrounding sexual assault and violence by holding up signs with phrases such as ‘flirting is not consent’.

Signs featured in the photo essay also conveyed statistics such as ‘98% of Rapist never see jail’ and ‘1 in 10 men will experience sexual assault’.

“I think it’s important to have these discussions because the more we make talk about it, it becomes a norm. It’s an uncomfortable and painful experience and memory but if we don’t talk about it, victims won’t be empowered to voice out and share their experience,” ASA president Meity Tang said.

“Doing this shows the public that it’s time that we will we speak up and stand up against this culture and show our support for victims of violence.’

Computing student Josh Binney also said that consent and sexual health are still highly important issues for students at university.

“Although it’s hard to believe that there are still some fucking idiots who don’t get it, only by working with students will this change,” he said.

The photos are now being displayed across campus in areas such as the university library.

Hotshots photo booth took the photos with the ASA advocacy department creating the signs for students.

Speakers for HELP: Auckland were also available to students to provide students with information.

The event further ties in with the Thursdays in Black event that the ASA have organised over the last month discussing Sexual Health, Consent and Safe Sex.

Similar events such as a protest at the Manawatu campus have been taking place across Massey campuses.