York is currently in the final stage of developing a sexual assault policy, which will be implemented as early as fall 2014 to help foster and sustain a safer campus.
York Federation of Students President Jessica Thyriar says although the need for the policy was agreed upon in June of last year, various student organizations on campus had been pressuring the administration for years.
“Preliminary aspects of the policy include researching the landscape for responding to sexual assault on campus and viewing sexual assault policies around various other institutions,” says Thyriar.
“By having a sexual assault policy, I believe there will be greater awareness for ensuring safety on campus.”
The sexual assault policy, which is currently in its development stage, will be comprised of three components: a sexual violence policy and corresponding procedures, pan-university prevention and response efforts, which include training, counselling, security provided by various groups, and an active bystander program.
President and Vice-Chancellor Mamdouh Shoukri says it’s important to create policies on campus that help to deal with sexual assaults in addition to increasing awareness about the issue.
“It’s important that we create policies to enhance and increase the awareness of violence against women in general because it’s a serious societal issue,” says Shoukri.
“Some people come to York from very sheltered backgrounds, and so we need to engage everybody and increase awareness all around, and to also have a zero tolerance policy for these kinds of offenses on campus.”
The drafting of the policy has been divided into four stages: commitment and communication, identifying a sexual violence/assault policy working group, assessment of current landscape and the identification of strengths and areas of improvement, and finally the development of a draft policy and corresponding procedures, which is taking place between February and August 2014.
Joanne Rider of York media says currently the working sexual assault group is looking at initiatives already in place here and at other universities to get a sense of some of what needs to be included, with the policy being finalized in the fall of 2014.
“There is a sexual assault prevention and response policy working group comprised of 15 people from various organizations and departments on campus involved in the process,” says Thyriar. “Currently, the group is focusing on outlining the role of offices, departments, and organizations in responding to incidents of sexual assault.”
The working group includes members from office of the vice-president finance and administration, office of the president, the Centre for Human Rights, student community and leadership development, office of conflict resolution, security services, office of the secretariat and general counsel, Sexual Assault Survivor’s Support Line and Leadership, the Centre for Women and Trans People, the YFS, the Graduate Students’ Association, and faculty representatives.
Shoukri says sexual assault is an ongoing battle, and he believes York is a leader in combating it, which creates an environment for communication about the topic that other universities don’t have.
“I am glad we talk about it more then most campuses, and I think we have made progress through the initiatives that we have undertaken,” says Shoukri.
Once the developmental stage is completed, the working group will write a draft policy and make recommendations to the Management Safety Committee, which will review and present its recommendations to the office of the president.
Hamid Adem
News Editor
