University of Calgary's red light, green light game aims to set record

The University of Calgary may just haveset a new Guinness World Record for the largest game of red light, green light.

The game was organized toraise awareness about sexual assault on campus and educate incoming students about what consent looks like andsounds like.

• University of Calgary's new sexual assault prevention program focuses on consent

The officialrecord was set with1,203 players, heldby Willamette University in Salem, Oregon.

U of C attempts to break Guinness World Record with mass game of red light, green light

8 years ago

Duration 0:33

The game was organized to raise awareness about sexual assault on campus and educate incoming students about what consent looks like and sounds like.

Nanako Furuyama, coordinator for the U of C's Women's Resource Centre, estimated 1,400 people turned out for Friday's attempt.

Sexual assault at universitieshas long been considered a taboo topic, said Furuyama,but events like these can help to erode that stigma.

"Through this kind of event, we try to normalize the conversation around consent and sexual assault so people feel safe coming out and getting help on campus," she said.

'No means no'

As a first-year student, Reilly Thorpe said she was warned by friends and family to take extra precautions while on campus, particularly at night and because she is female.

"It is a worry, but this makes me feel a bit safer that everyone's kind of knowing more about it," Thorpe said.

StevenArcus, a first-year engineering student, said he was excited at the prospect of setting a new record, but said the overall message of promoting consent on campus is more important.

"It's really important to just be safe out there."

"If you're seen at a bar or something and you see something not really goodhappening, it's really important for bystanders to come in and intervene."

His friend, Alex Connick, agreed.

"Yes means yes. No means no.You just got torespect that. If you can't, go back to grade school."

Friday's event ispart of a larger, three-year project by the university to create a culture of consent on campus.