Safety, Support, and Campus Culture

What support does AST provide for campus safety and sexual violence prevention?

AST is committed to a safe campus culture through the Sexual Violence Awareness Prevention Program (SVAPP). This initiative is led by our Student Coordinator, Chelsea Pinnell, who uses a blend of artistic expression, community engagement, and compassionate dialogue to promote consent, boundaries, and student wellbeing within the residence and wider campus community.

Profile photoWho is the SVAPP Coordinator at AST?

Born and raised in Nova Scotia, Chelsea Pinnell is a Bachelor of Fine Arts student at NSCAD, specializing in wheel-turned pottery and graphic novel illustration. A "jack of all trades" with experience in everything from metal works to event coordination at the Hubbards Farmers Market, Chelsea brings a multidisciplinary approach to SVAPP. Chelsea’s personal and artistic work often explores the dynamics between pain, growth, and the journey of reclaiming one's body after trauma, ensuring that AST's safety programming is deeply rooted in empathy and human connection.

How does SVAPP support AST residents?

Under Chelsea’s leadership, the program moves beyond traditional information-sharing toward a community-based model of empowerment. Residents benefit from:

  • Creative Engagement: Utilizing art and storytelling as tools to approach sensitive topics with kindness and compassion.

  • Community Coordination: Drawing on Chelsea’s experience in event planning to create inclusive, safe spaces for students to connect and learn.

  • Empathetic Resources: Guidance on consent, sexual expression, and wellness that focuses on understanding, compassion, and the importance of a safer campus for all.