Final WGEN Pilot Report by Shanthiya Baheerathan

Presented By: Shanthiya Baheerathan Part-Time Manager

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CONTENTS

OVERVIEW -3INTERNAL OPERATIONS -3EXTERNAL OPERATIONS: First Semester -5EXTERNAL OPERATIONS: Second Semester -7ADVOCACY -9FUTURE PLANS -10PROMOTIONS -10RESEARCH AND CONTEXT -11ABBREVIATIONS -13WORKS CITED -14LETTERS OF SUPPORT -15-

OVERVIEW Herstory WGEN was conceived by Elise Milani and Violetta Nikolskaya as a service to better address the needs of Women-Identified and Trans* people on campus. During their appeal to the MSU, a concurrent project was launched through the university, the It’s Time to End Violence Against Women Project. In hopes of getting more support from the university in establishing a permanent Women and Gender Equity Centre on campus, the pilot, WGEN, was approved by the SRA on March 31st 2014. After much debate, the budget for the service was passed in late June and the PTM for the service was hired on September 1st, 2014. Values WGEN is an anti-sexist, anti-racist, anti-oppressive, anti-homophobic, anti-transphobic organization committed to “actively advocating for the safety of women, trans students, and sexual assault survivors on campus” (Milani and Perin, 2014). Mission “1.1 To educate the McMaster community and continually work toward the goal of a campus free from prejudice and discrimination 1.2 To serve as a participant in supporting survivors of gender-based discrimination, sexual assault and/or similar forms of violence 1.3 To provide a physical safe space and contact point for women, trans individuals and survivors of sexual assault 1.4 To develop and strengthen relationships between McMaster students, staff and the members of the surrounding communities by providing information, resources, programming and on-campus advocacy around gender-based oppressions” (MSU, 2014). This year, WGEN hoped to establish services and events that would further the goal of a safer campus for women-identified people, trans people and survivors of sexual assault. By addressing gender-based issues from a structural level, through educative workshops and campaigns, and from the individual level, and through creating a support network through social events and safe(r) space, WGEN hopes to continuously dismantle structural inequalities and create an environment where women, trans-students and survivors of sexual assault feel safe, validated and understood. The activities of the network this year hoped to show the need of a Women and Gender Equity Centre, a trauma counselor and a response coordinator or campus. INTERNAL OPERATIONS Organizational Structure The structure of the service was altered in late September to reallocate duties of the Liaison, after the position was not hired (figure 1). It was decided at EB that the MSU president would advocate to university administration, and the PTM would act as a consultant by regularly meeting with various stakeholders (SACHA, PACBIC VAW-GBV, AVN, the SWC). It was also decided that the VP Administration and the PTM would search for available space for the service. The MSU President, the VP Administration and the PTM met every two weeks to discuss their progress. The previously assigned roles of the PTM, to establish programming, hire executive, train volunteers, and report to the EB remained the same.

Social and Political Events Social Events Service Provision

PTM Volunteer Coordinator Resources Coordinator

WGEN Sexual Assault/ Response Coordinator Conselor

MSU President

PTM

University Advocacy VP Administration Space PTM

Figure 1. Organizational Structure of WGEN Committees Social and Political Advocacy Committee Executive: Emma Perin and Ruchika Gothoskar Responsible for imparting change while building awareness on campus about various social and political issues relevant to women and trans students. This semester the committee partnered with the ISP and MISCA to focus on Indigenous Women’s Week, which included a traveling (Her)story exhibit, a panel, a candlelight vigil and a faceless dolls campaign. They also partnered with HRES, EWB, United in Colour and MMPJ to run events during International Women’s Week. The committee is also in the process of working on a trans-accessibility policy paper. Social Events and Planning Committee Executive: Hayley Regis Responsible for building a welcoming, safe(r) and supportive network for women-identified people, trans-people and survivors of sexual assault. This year, the committee planned two dialogue sessions, a yoga session, and a documentary screening. This process included consulting with community partners about fun and inclusive social events (such as networking, potlucks, storytelling circles, etc.), safe(r) space facilitation, and planning, launching and advertising the social events and the space. Resources Committee Executive: Carly Hunter Created and maintains an online (website) and physical (pamphlets, newsletters, zines) resource library for the McMaster Community. Collected manuals, articles and books related (but not limited to) to the topics of intersectional feminism, trans-antagonism, womanism, safe(r) space, etc. The committee also compiled a list of literature and received funding for a mobile resource library for the space. Biweekly articles in the Sil will start the second week of March. It is also responsible for workshops. Committee for Manual for Peer Support for Gendered Violence: a diverse group of students will create a training manual and resource list for students who will provide support for survivors of gendered violence in future years. The manual will encompass the variety of intersectional needs that the student population faces with respect to their genders and will encompass contexts and resources specific to students who are racialized, LGBT*Q, and/or belong to other marginalized groups on campus. This will ensure volunteers are able to address various intersecting issues surrounding gendered violence.

Volunteers Training: The volunteers received Anti-Oppression (HRES), Positive Space (QSCC), Trans 101 (the Well), and Question/Persuade/Refer training (SWC), and Safe(r) Space Training in preparation of safe(r) space facilitation. Since the space was acquired at the end of January, and due to conflicts in volunteer and trainer schedules, the launch of the safe(r) space was pushed back to the first week of March. This should not be a problem in the future, since, a PTM hired at the beginning of May should have the time to plan well in advance to accommodate volunteer’s schedules in September. EXTERNAL OPERATIONS: First Semester Assessing the Gaps Overlap of existing services was a major concern expressed at the beginning of this project. Meetings with relevant services and clubs on McMaster and Hamilton organizations ensured that WGEN’s services addressed the most marginalized student experiences and gaps in the MSU’s service provision. Relationships For the future sustainability for the service, a large portion of WGEN’s time was spent building partnerships to create more thorough programming. WGEN met regularly with partner organizations to ensure alignment in goals and values. Meeting with external and internal partners helped assess what projects were already underway, and fostered a sense of collaboration and communication. Moreover, meeting with these partners early on helped WGEN access resources and volunteers that would not have been available otherwise. Consulting with these partners also allowed the PTM to strategically advocate for interests to the MSU president, who went on to advocate to university administration. SACHA: The PTM met once a semester with Lenore Lukasik-Foss (Director) or Erin Crickett (Public Educator) to discuss SACHA’s resources, volunteer training, the recommendations of the It’s Time Project, and how to best advocate for the response coordinator role. It was decided that WGEN would advocate for recommendation 3, “the appointment of a sexual, domestic and family violence response coordinator available to all members of the university”, and recommendation 4, “the development of sustained partnerships …culminating in a Women’s Service Satellite Office”. WGEN would also work with HRES and the SWC on recommendation 8,”the initiation of an annual, university wide education and awareness campaign” (YWCA and SACHA, 2014). YWCA: The PTM met with Dr. Jessica Franklin (Manager of Women and Girls Program) to discuss the recommendations of the It’s Time Project, YWCA’s programming and ways in which WGEN could collaborate with the YWCA (workshops, peer support manual, etc.). AVN: The PTM met with Dr. Carol Wood to discuss how to better support AVN’s womenoriented programming and services such as the red dress campaign (which was incorporated into Indigenous Women’s Week) and National Day to End Violence Against Women. The Well: The PTM met and had a regular email correspondence with Poe (Diversity Consultant, Previous Coordinator) to understand how to make the service more transaccessible. PACBIC VAWGBV: The PTM or an executive regularly attends meetings to gain a better understanding of the interests of various committee members and about the progress of the It’s Time Project’s recommendations.

Diversity Services – Gender Pillar: The PTM consulted with Sarah Quayyum (Director) and Kimyia Sorouri (Gender Pillar), and regularly met with Natasha Sadhu (Services Commissioner), and Nishan Zewge-Abubaker (Assistant Director), to ensure there weren’t any program overlaps. Since WGEN has more capacity with respect to number of volunteers, funding and university support, it was decided that further discussion was needed about the necessity of the gender pillar. SWC: The PTM met with Pearl and Melissa at the SWELL to collaborate with them on the education campaign about consent. QSCC: The PTM regularly met with Daniel McGuire (PTM) for support and collaboration on events. United In Colour: The PTM regularly attended meetings, and collaborated with Romhita Sur (Co-president) on Rock Our Souls – International Women’s Day Celebration. Womanists: The PTM regularly corresponded with Kayonne Christy (Co-President), to collaborate on events and to ensure that WGEN’s programming was intersectional. Her McMaster: A social and political advocacy executive regularly attended meetings. MISCA: The social and political advocacy executive regularly attended meetings to better collaborate with them on Indigenous Women’s Week and to ensure that WGEN’s programming was as inclusive as possible to indigenous women and two spirit persons. CUPE 3906: The PTM met with Emma McKinnena the equity officer to discuss how they could collaborate on future projects or collaborate on TA training. GSA: The PTM corresponded with Andrea Cole (Coordinator of Recruitment, Retention and Diversity) to discuss future partnerships and collaborations. Event and Campaign Partnerships Womanists Coffee House WGEN partnered with the womanists to host a coffee house about black feminism in early November. MSU Wants You The MSU Wants YOU campaign is the product of an ad-hoc working group consisting of members from across the MSU: Naomi Pullen, Deputy Returning Officer; Natasha Sandhu, SRA Services Commissioner; Christina Vietinghoff, Features Editor at The Silhouette;; Jess Shoker, Advocacy Coordinator; Sarah Quayyum , Diversity Services Director; Nishan Zegwe-Abubaker, Diversity Services Assistant Director; and Teddy Saull, MSU President. The initiative took a multipronged approach to the issue of the lack of women representation on the SRA and the MSU. First, the group encouraged BOD members to reach out to students, conducted focus groups with women on the SRA. Then, the initiative conducted a variety of events to discuss the underrepresentation of women in MSU governance –a roundtable night following the YWCA’s Leadership Summit for Women, a Taco Bout the MSU night and an evening tea. Women’s Studies Coordination WGEN partnered with a first year Women Studies class to co-host two campaigns, the “white ribbon campaign” and a “draw the line campaign”. Over the course of a week, the students tabled everyday, organized workshops with SACHA and the YWCA, and spent one day in MUSC marketplace doing an interactive activity with students. The students reached 43 students for the two workshops, and over 60 students visited the display to participate in the activity.

Events Feminist Community Praxis A networking event that hoped to promote collaboration and dialogue before creating programming related to women and gender. Brought out over 40 students, staff and faculty, and we had lots of fruitful discussion about how to go about planning our events for this semester. Self-Identified Gender (total: 41)

Self-Identified by Affiliation (total:41) Student (1250)

Men (7)

Staff (320) Women (32)

Faculty (43)

Genderqueer (2)

Graduate Student (20)

Women and Trans Dinner WGEN partnered with QSCC to co-host an exclusive dinner for folks who are women, non-binary, and trans at the phoenix. EXTERNAL OPERATIONS: Second Semester Regular Programming Online Resources Generated awareness of on campus and off campus services through a strong presence on Facebook, Twitter and the MSU website. This includes posting articles consistently, and making sure that events and services related to WGEN, both on campus and off campus were advertised. A resources list has been compiled and is consistently updated. Safe(r) Space A safe(r) space manual was constructed by the Committee for Manual for Peer Support Gendered Violence, and the space will be launched on Friday, March 7th. The launch of the space was delayed by access to the key and volunteers and trainers being unable to agree on a mutual time for Anti-Oppressive, Positive Space and QPR training. We did not want to have volunteers who would be unable to provide support and resources to students seeking support during a crisis. Book Clubs Bi-weekly book clubs will bring students together to talk about feminist, womenist and anti-oppressive literature. The book club will be coordinated with the physical resource library once the books are purchased. $5000 of funding has been approved for a library. Documentary Screening We have had one documentary screening, Finding Dawn, a documentary that illustrates the factors that contribute to the epidemic of violence against Native Women. We will be having biweekly screenings of different documentaries. Â

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Events Launch A day-long event was planned for the official launch of the WGEN. Events included performances and lectures. Janani and Alok of Darkmatter, a trans South Asian art and activist collaboration, launched the day. A Feminist Fair which included participation of numerous women’s groups on campus and in Hamilton such as SACHA, United in Colour, Her McMaster, Pro-Choice McMaster, the QSCC and the McMaster Womanists. The fair consisted of a moderated discussion about gender, sexual assault and race. Next, Davina Hader and Susan Gapka of the Trans Lobby group gave a presentation on their experiences. The day concluded with a Networking Night, which hoped to promote connections and encourage dialogue about the issues women face. Direct Engagement in Launch (total: 125)

Online Engagement in Launch (total:749)

DarkMatter (40) Feminist Fair (52) Trans Lobby Group (20) Networking Night (20)

Facebook Post Likes (119) Facebook Reach (492) Page Likes (37) Followers (32) Retweets (20)

Indigenous Women’s Week WGEN partnered with MISCA, and staff and students from ISP to organize the first ever MSU campaign about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. The art installation, (Her)story, displayed the national crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls within Canada. The panel featured accomplished Indigenous and Ally women from the McMaster community who shared their thoughts and ideas on how to make Canada a safer and more supportive place for Indigenous women and girls. A candle-lit vigil honored the memory of the missing and murdered Indigenous women who have been stolen from their lives and family through violence. Finally, MISCA facilitated a faceless dolls workshop to add to their banner of dolls. The (Her)story installation and the panel engendered a lot of interest from students, staff and faculty. Direct Engagement in Indigenous Women's Week (total: 1653)

Online Engagement in Indigenous Women's Week (total:3502)

Pamphlets (1250) (Her)story (320)

Facebook Post Likes (119) Facebook Reach (3073) Page Likes (50)

Panel (43)

Followers (20) Vigil (20)

Retweets (40)

Faceless Dolls (20)

International Women’s Week International Women’s Week was a collaborative effort between WGEN, MMPJ, the Golden Z, EWB, HRES and United and Colour. The week hoped to high highlight the experiences of the women in our lives and around the world, while simultaneously celebrating their accomplishments. Key events to note were the “Mirror Mirror” photobooth, which hoped to inspire and exhibit body love, the Muslim Women’s Networking Event, a panel on Women Working and Volunteering Abroad and the Rock Our Souls coffee house. There was a lot of student interest in “Mirror Mirror”, and online engagement was over 15000. Direct Engagement in Online Engagement in International Women's Week Indigenous Women's Week (total: 395) (total:15980) Mirror Mirror (115)

IPV Lecture (20)

Facebook Post Likes (1366) Facebook Reach (14442) Page Likes (87)

Rock Our Souls (90)

Followers (25)

Muslim Women Networking Night (60) Family Ties (70)

Retweets (60)

Working Abroad (21) In Her Shoes (19)

ADVOCACY Through advocacy from the It’s Time Project (SACHA and YWCA), PACBIC VAWGBV, HRES, AVN, the MSU President, VP Administration, the Dean of Students, and the PTM, the university has committed to a three-pronged approach to the problem of violence against women and gender-based violence (figure 2). WGEN • Resources • Programming • Advocacy

External Partners" • SACHA"

SWC

HRES

• Trauma Specialist

• Response Coordinator

Figure 2. HRES will house a response coordinator; SWC will house a trauma counselor; and WGEN will house peer support, programming (events, campaigns) and resources Space A space was acquired through VP Admin and the MSU president’s conversations with the student success centre and the Dean of Students. MUSC 226 is currently being used for safe(r) space and healing space hours.

WGEN in the Larger University Environment The university has committed to the hiring of the response coordinator, who would help survivors navigate the different systems (legal, medical, academic, etc.) related to sexual assault. In his report to the board of governors, Patrick Deane also stated that a Trauma Counselor would be hired. PACBIC VAWGBW is creating a sexual assault policy for the campus, in which WGEN will take part. “The University supports the hiring of a dedicated coordinator to oversee the University’s response to instances of sexual violence. Discussions are currently underway regarding the exact scope and requirements of this position, which will reside within Human Rights and Equity Services. Once the coordinator is in place, the Response Protocol will be implemented. To complement the coordinator position, and to strengthen further the Student Wellness Centre team, it is planned to recruit a trauma specialist to support victims of gender-based violence, as well as those who have suffered other forms of trauma. As part of the services and supports offered to students, the McMaster Students Union has established a Women and Gender Equity Network. This Network strives to provide information, resources, programming and advocacy with the goal of educating the McMaster community about gender-based discrimination. The MSU intends that the Network will evolve into a Centre where peer support, referrals and safer space can be offered. Both the University and the MSU regard these as a linked package of initiatives and are committed to working together to implement them.” (Deane, 2014) FUTURE PLANS Events Sexual Harassment in Academia and the Workplace Conference WGEN partnered with CUPE 3906 for their Sexual Harassment in Academia and the Workplace Conference, taking place on Tuesday, March 17th. The full-day non-traditional conference will deal with sexual harassment within academia and the workplace and will consist of keynotes, panels and workshops. Educational Consent Campaign As a part of the recommendations from the It’s Time Project, SWC, AVN, HRES and WGEN are collaborating to create an educational awareness campaign about power and consent. Currently, we are in the process of creating focus groups to take part in a brainstorming session, and to encourage a safe space for all participants to share their thoughts about the campaign. The campaign will take place early next year or late this year. Feminist “Think Tank” Followed by Engagement Event A feminist think tank will be held with PACBIC VAWGBV, SACHA, YWCA, HRES, CUPE 3906, and AVN for individuals who are working in this field, to get better acquainted with the complexities of the issues, and to learn how to better support one another. Other Initiatives • • •

Trans Accessibility Survey and Policy Paper: A literature review has been compiled and we will be conducting focus groups Mobile Resource Library: $5000 has been approved through SLEF for a mobile resource library. Peer Support Manual for Gendered Violence: While volunteers have been extensively trained, they are not yet ready to provide direct peer support to students. 10

Fierce Magazine: WGEN will be partnering with Fierce Magazine to co-publish an online publication every three months during the year in the upcoming year. Fierce will consist of articles showcasing female researchers and student work, addressing issues that affect females in the work force. • Permanent Space on Campus PROMOTIONS News Articles The Silhouette has favorably written about the conception of the centre and its launch, in MSU Launches WGEN Service and One Step Closer to Campus Women’s Centre. McMaster Daily News has reported on Indigenous Women’s Week, stating “a brand new McMaster Students Union pilot project is already making an impact on campus” (Cimini, 2015). Social Media Currently WGEN has over 500 organic likes on Facebook, which is growing daily. Its daily engagement (link clicks, likes and comments) averages 200 daily, and increases to up to 4500 during campaigns and events. We have worked to ensure that we are posting relevant and interesting articles daily, so that students of McMaster are informed and aware of trans and women’s issues on campus, in Hamilton and worldwide. The posts are typically coordinated with our events so that students can access relevant material after engaging with events and campaigns. WGEN has over 200 twitter followers, which is growing daily. Posts have been re-tweeted by McMaster University, McMaster Daily News and the Sil, increasing viewership and publicity of the events and posts. Promo The three central themes of the service: gender expression and/or gender identity, community and intersectionality, which have been distilled from the service’s Operating Policy and General Policy, are accurately conveyed by the logo. The two gender symbols, portrayed in the same color, attached by an intersection, and superimposed with the intersex symbol, convey the fluidity of gender expression and identity. Our logo seeks to emphasize that gender functions on a range, by centralizing the cross and the intersex symbol in the image, while simultaneously portraying the male and female symbols. A pull-up banner, a throw cover banner for the space, cards, buttons, rave cards, posters and brochures are in the process of being designed and printed by the Underground. Services posters have been printed. RESEARCH AND CONTEXT The world outside of the university is filled with problematic portrayals of gender identity, which directly and indirectly contribute to the sexual, physical and emotional violence against woman and trans individuals on campus. In that world, survivors of sexual assault and gender-based violence rarely receive support, and victims’ calls for support are often reversed to victim-blame, and experiences are often minimized and delegitimized. University culture is not outside of this prevalent narrative. Students are exposed to the “outside” daily and come into the university with these assumptions, which goes on to shape McMaster’s culture. Canadian universities’ predominant culture, the one that first year students are exposed to upon first entrance, allows problematic notions about gender-identity to fester and manifest in instances like chants at UBC, conversations taking place between students leaders at UofO or, more recently, facebook posts targeting fellow dentistry students at Dalhousie. Closer to home, two McMaster students, Cathy Huang and Emily Hunter, have written publically about their stories of assault in Hamilton. These •

instances, which are indicative of assumptions about women and trans students, embed themselves in the student culture and go on to normalize violence against women and trans individuals. Ultimately, this culture prevents women and trans students from participating fully in university life. To develop a university space that is safe for women and trans individuals, so as to enable them to bring their whole identity to their daily interactions with people, the MSU needs to invest into providing resources for unlearning the dominant narrative and exposing students to the diverse and complex issues surrounding gender, gender-identity and gendered violence. In its first year of operation, WGEN has demonstrated the need of a Women and Gender Equity Centre on campus. From the variety of campaigns and regular programming, and the number of students engaged with the issue of gender equity, it is clear that the service fills a gap in service provision in the MSU. Moreover, the events of this year have demonstrated that gender inequality is not just a problem confined to McMaster, it is a problem faced by students before entering university, after graduation, and in the working world. Approving the service for next year would be a testament to the MSUâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s commitment to dismantling gender inequalities, and preventing gendered violence on campus.

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ABBREVIATIONS AVN: Anti-Violence Network CUPE 3906: Canadian Union of Public Employees EWB: Engineers Without Borders GSA: Graduate Student Assocation HRES: Human Rights and Equity Services ISP: Indigenous Studies Program It’s Time Project: It’s Time to End Violence on Campus LGBT*QA: Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Two Spirit, Intersectional, Queer, Questioning, Asexual, Ally MISCA: McMaster Indigenous Student Community Alliance MMPJ: McMaster Muslims for Peace and Justice MSU: McMaster Student Union PACBIC VAWGBV: President’s Advisory Committee on Building an Inclusive Community, Violence Against Women/Gender Based Violence Working Group QSCC: Queer Student’s Community Centre SACHA: Sexual Assault Centre of Hamilton and Area SLEF: Student Life Enhancement Fund SWC: Student Wellness Centre The Sil: The Silhouette UBC: University of British Columbia UofO: University of Ottawa WGEN: Women and Gender Equity Network YWCA: Young Women’s Christian Association

WORKS CITED Cimini, L. (2015, February 19). MSU campaign sheds light on Indigenous women. The Daily News. Retrieved March 1, 2015, from http://dailynews.mcmaster.ca/article/msucampaign-sheds-light-on-indigenous-women/ Deane, P. President’s Report to McMaster University’s Board of Governors. McMaster University, 11 December 2014. Web. February 27 2015. Milani, E. Perin, E. MSU Policy Against Gender Based Violence and Oppression on Campus. MSU, 31 March 2014. Web. 27 February 2015. MSU. Operating Policy Women and Gender Equity Network. MSU, 31 March 2014. Web. 27 February 2015.

LETTERS OF SUPPORT