“Don’t Be That Guy” Poster Campaign
Wednesday, September 28, 2011 at 15:24
The Saskatoon Police Service and its partners are embarking on a poster campaign that addresses the offenders, rather than the victims, of sexual assault.
This morning posters were unveiled that follow similar campaigns done in Edmonton and Ontario, with the message that sex without consent is sexual assault.
Staff Sergeant Jean-Marc Voisard says for years, the message has been focused on the victim, telling women to avoid dark streets, to not dress a certain way or to never leave their drinks at bars.
Voisard says now the message is specifically targetting men aged 19 to 25: “don’t be that guy” who doesn’t take responsibility, who doesn’t make sure his partner is consenting, who assaults someone too drunk to consent to sex, or who doesn’t call it rape when in fact it is.
The posters will be put up in bars and nightclubs around Saskatoon, as well as on the University of Saskatchewan campus.
Voisard says only 10 to 20 per cent of all sexual assaults are reported and at least half of them involve alcohol.