Anti-Violence Network

Programs and Initiatives

Take Back the Night

McMaster University Supports Take Back the Night. MSU Executives and University Administration gather with students in support of "Take Back the Night", an awareness event about violence against women and children.  A banner was signed by more than 600 students, and an equal number enjoyed the candy floss.

Diversity Lunch

The diversity lunch format has essentially remained the same. A topic of concern is selected. One or more panelists are sought (student, staff, faculty) and are each asked to address the topic based on the following questions:

1. Diversity is enrichment. In what ways do you enrich the campus and the wider society?
2. What words would you use to describe the climate in which you work and/or study at McMaster as it relates to _______________.
3. Being different means being invisible in some respects and visible in others. What are your reflections on the issues of visibility and invisibility?
4. What in your view could be done to make the campus more inclusive and more receptive to diversity?

Topics Addressed at the Diversity Lunches

• March 16, 2004 - Does Freedom of Expression Have It's Limits?
• February, 2001 - Fostering Respect
  • (with Interfaith Unity) a panel discussion with representatives of six world religions
• September and October 2000 - Healing The Wounds
  • Dr. Joanna Santa Barbara, Tony Conte and Carol Wood
• 2000 - Diversity of Religion
  • Dr. Louis Greenspan and student panelists
• February 1999 - Ability and Access
• April 1998 - Human Rights in the Workplace
  • Mary Warner
• March 1998 - Panel Discussion on Racism
  • with Films "Browen and Yaffa" and "For Angela"
• February 1998 - Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transsexual, Transgendered Diversity
• November 1997 - What It's Like to be Different in a Large Institution

Roses Among the Stones

A Commemorative Service to celebrate non-violence in the Nina de Villiers Rose Garden. Beginning October 5, 1998, the service has been offered each year in September or October as part of the Month Without Violence Initiative. The University President's Office has provided a grant each year for expenses related to this non-violence initiative. Members of the Network have focused on educational and awareness programs for approximately one-month.

Photos from "The Bathtub Project"

Other Programs & Initiatives

• Monday, November 5th, 2007 - "Shameless: The Art of Disability"
  Award-winning director, Bonnie Sherr Klein reveals the lives of 5 artists as they speak candidly about their art, relationships, joys and fears. Dispelling the myth of disability as tragedy, Shameless is honest, vulnerable and filled with unexpected beauty
  Thursday, September 20th , 2007 - "Take Back The Night"
  A march through downtown Hamilton in support of stopping violence against women and children.
• Tuesday, September 11th, 2007 - "Anti-Violence Awareness Event"
• Tuesday, October 17th, 2006 - "Violence Against Women: Will It Ever End?"
  Presented by Krista Warnke, Public Education Coordinator, Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton and Area). For more information about the workshop, please contact krista@sacha.ca.
• Wednesday, March 23rd, 2005 - "The Politics of Rape" by Jane Doe
  • The Anti-Violence Network and the Women’s Studies Programme presented “Jane Doe” speaking on “The Politics of Rape”
• Monday, March 21st, 2005 "International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination"
• "Racism & Education"
• Tuesday, March 8th, 2005 - "International Women's Day"
  • Women at Ground Zero
• Friday, December 10th, 2004 - "Great Women... and the Men Who Stand Behind Them"
  McMaster Women's Studies Program held a fundraiser dance to benefit the Anti-Violence Network and the Hamilton Sexual Assault Centre. Some cotumes were worn to celebrate a great woman or man and some participants came as the great people they already are. Daily News Article about this event
• Monday, December 6th, 2004 - "National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women"
  • Commemorated the Montreal Massacre of 1989 where 14 women were murdered. "We come together as a community to remember... because no woman should have to live in fear."
• November 22, 2004 - "Boundaries to Academic Freedom?"
  • a discussion about academic freedom and inclusive community issues
• November 15 - 19 - "Bathtub Project"
• interfaith charity project benefiting local women's shelters in Hamilton
• an article about the "Bathtub Project"
• September 30, 2004 - "The Laramie Project"
  • presented by The Picadilly Circus Theatre Company
  • a startling drama which explored the struggle of a town coming to terms with questions raised in the wake of a fatal hate crime against Matthew Shepard - a 21 year-old University of Wyoming student.
• March 1, 2004 - "War Taught Me"
  • partnered with other offices on campus to coordinate this event for International Women's Day
• October 16, 2003 - "When Does Free Speech Hurt"
  • poster forum
• October 2003 - Awareness and Self-Defense
  • with Sgt. Cathy O'Donnell from Security Services and Mr. Sparrow of Temple Kung-Fu
• November 2002 - Awareness Tables & Survey
  • with student volunteers
• September 2002 - "One Year After September 11th... What Have We Learned?
• September 2002 - Fostering Respect Art Exhibit
• September 1999 - One week of table displays
  • coordinated by Jane Radix
• February 1998 - Jean's Day in support of Queer Culture @ Mac
• 1998 - Inserts on consent, campus climate, etc.