By Florence Robert
Bishop’s University has introduced a new harm reduction campaign aimed at helping students look out for one another and themselves on and off campus. Named the “We Owe Each Other Better” campaign, this initiative covers four major areas of student life: partying, consent and boundaries, sports betting and social inclusion.
Each pillar has its own online guide with information on how to recognize potentially harmful behaviour, identify when something is wrong and know what to do next. Jennifer Coley-Gomez, Director of Student Experience and Engagement, explained that the campaign was created to give students information without taking away from their university experience.
Graphic courtesy of Latoya Simms
“The idea is never to take away the fun. It’s a coming-of-age time. We want to provide students with knowledge and information so that they can make good choices and make it a safe environment for everybody. Everybody belongs here,” she said.
The campaign uses red and green flags to identify positive or troubling language. In the Party Smart guide, for example, “What is actually in this?” is presented as a green flag, while “One more drink before we go” is a red flag. The guide also discusses warning signs of substance misuse and directs students towards various resources for support. Social inclusion was also highlighted as part of the university’s goal of fostering a welcoming environment for students from all backgrounds.
The four pillars of the campaign were chosen based on recurring issues in other Canadian university campuses as well as based on values important to the Bishop’s community. Coley-Gomez explained that the university has recently seen an increase in sports betting, making it an important topic to address. She explained that students may not know when certain situations become dangerous or harmful, especially with consent and mixing substances. The campaign is intended to help students recognize these situations.
From Awareness to Involvement
The university is also looking for three student volunteers to join the Campus Harm Reduction Strategy Committee. While substance use is one of the main focuses of the strategy, the committee will take a broader look at issues like sexual and gender- based violence, discrimination and hazing.
The committee will also review current university policies surrounding these topics and consider approaches taken by other universities as it develops Bishop’s strategy. The committee will also allow students to share different perspectives and help shape the university’s approach to harm reduction.
For Coley-Gomez, education is one of the most important parts of the campaign. “If what this campaign does is spark curiosity and dialogue, that’s a win for me,” she said.
However, education is not the only goal. The university hopes that it will encourage students to feel comfortable asking for help when they need it and become more familiar with the resources that are available to them. Creating a campus where students feel safe coming forward for support is another important part of harm reduction.
The campaign is also being incorporated into larger student events, such as Hoco On The Hill. Coley-Gomez described this as a “flagship event,” where she hopes students will be able to have a good time while also feeling safe, secure and welcome.
As Bishop’s continues to develop the campaign throughout the year, the university hopes that “We Owe Each Other Better” gives students a starting point to better educate themselves on harm reduction and where to turn for support.
