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Big efforts for consent in KTH's student life

Published Nov 29, 2024

KTH and THS put efforts into promoting consent and preventing harassment and assault in student life. As the first Swedish university, KTH makes a long-term implementation of the Dare to Care concept in various student environments.

Hanna Knutsson, JML strategist
Hanna Knutsson, JML strategist at KTH Equality Office.

Since last spring, KTH, THS and RFSU – the Swedish Association for Sexual Education – have been working together to implement the concept Dare to Care in the student union's activities. Dare to Care is an initiative that RFSU has mainly worked with together with organisers of clubs, festivals and other events to promote consent and prevent sexual harassment.

During the autumn, the campaign has been visible in connection with Campus Day and a THS pub. Dare to Care will now become an essential part of the education of THS buddies for next year's reception of new students. The goal is that Dare to Care will contribute to safer and more inclusive student events at KTH, partly by opening up conversations about boundaries and partly by encouraging active bystanding:

"With the Dare to Care concept, we want to create environments at KTH where we take time to reflect on how we - with the support of others or on our own, with a focus on consideration - can act early in situations where we perceive that someone is at risk of being exposed for an assault.", says Hanna Knutsson, JML strategist at KTH Equality Office.

Offered for different parts of student life

Dare to Care has previously mainly worked in festival environments, and KTH will now be the first Swedish university to, together with RFSU, make a long-term effort to make the concept an integrated part of the university's various student environments.

Education of Dare to Care ambassadors will also be offered to students so they can bring the initiative further to the chapters and associations within THS.

"With this project, we are also interested in knowing more if KTH students have tips or thoughts on how Dare to Care can become part of student life. Maybe there is a context where you think there is a need for more awareness around this topic, or perhaps you want to test the concept in your section or association. All ideas are welcome!", says Hanna Knutsson.

Leave your thoughts and ideas regarding Dare to Care

Six ways to be a active bystander

  1. Think it through before it happens. What would you do if you saw someone at risk of getting hurt? If you have thought about it in advance, it’s easier to take action in the moment.

  2. Be considerate rather than suspicious. Sometimes it’s easier to help the person who’s being harassed instead of focusing on the person doing something wrong.

  3. Make contact with others. Look around - are other people seeing the same thing you’re seeing? Make contact with them so you can help each other take action.

  4. Dare to speak up. Is no one else reacting? Take action anyway. You can be the first link in a chain of people who, together, prevent an assault from happening.

  5. Interrupt the situation. Do something that creates a distraction. Ask an unexpected question or turn the music off. If you know that a sexual assault is going on, fetch a security guard or call the police!

  6. It's never to late to help. Make contact with and support the person who’s been harassed or assaulted. Offer to act as a witness if necessary.

Source: daretocare.se

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