Sunday, December 19, 2010

Official statement on news of a sexual assault on Carleton University's campus

The Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre is appalled at the reporting of a sexual assault occurring on Carleton’s campus in 2009 by a reservist.

On December 13, 2010 the Ottawa Citizen reported that Patrick Humphreys sexually assaulted a womyn in the summer of 2009. Citing "six beers and one shot" as his reasoning, Humphreys’ followed up his assault with apologetic text messages saying that he hoped that his victim would not be upset with him.

As the only group on campus dedicated to sexual assault, the Coalition is appalled at the Citizen’s reporting of this case, where they give credence to Humphreys’ disturbing excuses and go so far as to refer to the assault as "kissing and intrusive sexual touching." Humphreys is being charged with sexual assault – why not call it what it is?

Furthermore, the Coalition is disgusted by Ontario Court Justice Heather Perkins-McVey's comments, where she states that Humphreys is not a "sexual deviant" and that his assault is "every man’s worst nightmare." For a judge to take such a biased approach to a very serious crime is appalling and deplorable.

The Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre has been lobbying Carleton University since 2007 for the creation of a sexual assault centre on campus. Since this has not happened, Carleton is unable to offer the survivor of this assault a safe space for support.

As a group of dedicated volunteers and anti-violence activists, we call this incident what it is: a sexual assault by a person in power. For a judge to write it off as bad judgement and for the media to treat is as such is an indication of how pervasive rape culture really is.

We condemn Patrick Humphreys, the Ottawa Citizen, Ontario Court Justice Heather Perskins-McVey and Carleton University. We stand in solidarity with the survivor of this assault and we hope that she is supported in her healing.

If you are looking for support, the Coalition created an independent, survivor driven sexual assault support line in March 2010. The line is open from 8:00 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week and offers free, confidential peer support. The support line number is 613-620-1030.

For more information, please contact us at coalitionforcarleton@gmail.com

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Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre
Support Line: 613-620-1030
coalitionforcarleton@gmail.com

Friday, December 3, 2010

Join the Coalition at another great community event -- "Reclaiming Our Bodies"

Hello everyone!

As part of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, the Ottawa RebELLEs are hosting a fundraising body-painting event Sunday, 5 December 2010, 7:00-9:00pm at Venus Envy (320 Lisgar St.) $3 at the door or pay what you can.

This is a body painting event to celebrate and reclaim our bodies from sexual violence. Our vision is to contrast and resist the violence--physical and otherwise perpetuated on womyn's bodies and bodies that reject gender binaries. Our vision is also to celebrate our bodies through paint and photography in a body-positive and sex-positive space.

You can also have your body photographed by professional photographers for $5.

Painting supplies for body painting and poster painting will be provided.
Music and spoken word by Michelle Blackburn will entertain us.

Party panties are mandatory - but all other clothes are optional

The funds collected from the event for the door and photos will be donated to the Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre!

You can get to Venus Envy by bus routes 1, 4 and 7. It is also four blocks south of the downtown Transitway. Venus Envy is accessible by ramp but does not have accessible bathrooms.

All are welcome and we hope you'll come out to help us "reclaim our bodies" and paint our resistance against gender violence.


For more information on the Ottawa RebELLEs, please e-mail them at ottawarebelles@gmail.com, or check out their website at
ottawarebelles.blogspot.com.
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Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre
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Support Line: 613-620-1030
coalitionforcarleton@gmail.com