Trinity College at the University of Toronto.
Image Source: University of Toronto
Empowering survivors of sexual violence and raising community awareness
By Arielle Chin, Staff Writer
Trinity Against Sexual Assault and Harassment (TASAH) is a club focused on supporting survivors and addressing sexual violence on campus. TASAH is dedicated to fostering a supportive environment for survivors of sexual violence and raising awareness about these issues within the Trinity College community.
The club aims to increase awareness and education about sexual health (including mental health and the concept of consent), expand its audience within the Trinity community, and enhance its programs, such as its sustainable menstrual supplies initiative, to support more students.
Member Testaments
Micah Kalisch, a recent graduate, refounded the club several years ago. It is now led by 3rd-year students Rosa Caramazza and Laiba Irfan Butt. Co-president Rosa Caramazza was inspired by TASAH’s previous initiatives and wanted to work on helping the community at Trinity College.
“I wanted to focus on making an impact directly within my community,” Caramazza said. “I’m excited to contribute to that change on campus.”
TASAH was established due to dissatisfaction with the Sexual Violence Prevention Center‘s handling of cases brought to their attention. Members of TASAH who were interviewed for this article joined for a variety of reasons, ranging from personal experiences with sexual violence to wanting to support their peers.
Laiba Irfan Butt, the other Co-president of TASAH, joined after attending one of TASAH’s events.
“As someone who wasn’t involved in this sphere before I was inspired to join,” Butt said. “I took a critical look at what I can do for my community on how to support other people by preventing sexual harassment. It felt impactful to me that I was making a difference through [TASAH’s] small pop-ups.”
Club Secretary Hex Li experienced sexual violence on campus: “Even though I had a relatively good experience with the Sexual Violence Prevention Center, I didn’t feel like it was enough.”
Abigail Black, who is a Member at Large, helps out with general activities within TASAH. Black joined after she was assaulted and felt that the campus support centers did not support her case.
“I joined TASAH because they have supportive programs for survivors which made me feel like I wasn’t alone,” Black said. “I like how it’s raising awareness for students on how to stay safe on campus.”
Events and Workshops
TASAH’s past activities include creating a sustainable menstrual supply program for Trinity students, a gender-reaffirming gear program, monthly pop-ups that distribute sustainable menstrual supplies and safety items (e.g., cup covers), and a survivor care kit program. One of their upcoming events is a tote bag painting event that first-year representatives will lead. This event hopes to encourage more individuals to support and join this club.
Members have participated in peer support training workshops to equip them with skills to support other survivors effectively. These peer support training workshops focus on how to listen and respond appropriately to individuals who have experienced sexual violence.
“It [sexual assault] is a systematic issue,” Li said. “It’s important to have a culture of consent which is why I am in TASAH to help to build that.”
TASAH has encountered some challenges such as difficulty in securing menstrual supplies in washrooms despite having a contract with Trinity College. They also have had issues with booking rooms for events, which has led to inadequate spaces for hosting discussions on sensitive topics.
“We are very thankful to Micah and everyone else who came before us who got all the ground rules laid down,” Butt said. “Thankfully, now we can get a good budget for our programs and events.”
As they look forward to this upcoming year, their goal is to gain new members to join them through expanding their programs with an increased budget. TASAH hopes to support as many students as they can in the Trinity community and hope they can continue to do so in future years!
Follow them on Instagram @tctasah.
