Shadia Balram | Contributor
Featured image: The newly established Sexual Violence Response Office and York’s updated policy replaces the current Sexual Assault Awareness, Education and Response Policy from February of last year. | Amir Yazdanparast
York has released interim guidelines for reporting sexual assault in light of continuing high-profile sexual assault court cases and increased campus safety concerns.
The new guideline changes the way sexual assault is reported. Notifying police services will now only occur with the consent of the survivor, unless there is an imminent safety risk to the community.
According to an email circulated to students, the university has established a Sexual Violence Response Office to coordinate support for community members who have experienced sexual assault. A 15-page document detailing the guidelines is included in the email.
“The Sexual Violence Response Office is designated as the first point of contact for those who have experienced sexual violence and will support all members of the York Community—students, faculty and staff,” says Samina Sami, executive director of the department of community safety.
“This new office will be managed and supported during the interim period by the Office for Student Community Relations while we complete final arrangements in consultation with the community,” she adds.
Additional staff are being hired to support the new commitments. York draws attention to existing practices and services to address sexual violence and states that new measures are to be introduced based on community consultations.
“This is an important step toward the development and implementation of York’s new Sexual Violence Policy, in accordance with the province’s new Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan Act,” reads the email.
The new policy will more broadly address the spectrum of sexual violence, replacing York’s Sexual Assault Awareness, Education and Response Policy that dates back to February of last year.
Campus groups have mixed feelings about the guideline. Trans Feminist Action Caucus, or TFAC, Co-Chair Nicole Leach says the interim guidelines do not go far enough to address sexual violence and sexual assault at York.
“While CUPE 3903 and TFAC acknowledge that awareness over the lack of information throughout the York community over what to do if an assault happens needs to be addressed, we have many concerns with the content of the new guidelines,” says Leach.
“We have concerns regarding the stated limits to confidentiality and the implications that this places on York’s ability to ensure that its sexual assault/violence policy is survivor-centric—a principle that York has continued to commit to throughout the process of developing these guidelines,” she adds.
CUPE 3903 members have raised concerns regarding the need for more frequent and more substantial consultation with appropriate stakeholders, as well as other concerns about the policy direction itself, according to Leach.
On the other hand, Silence is Violence, or SIV, at York explains that the group is happy to see that York is updating the policy and process for reporting sexual assault.
“There is no question York University has a progressive sexual assault policy. We are happy to see that York University has taken our recommendation to create a dedicated sexual assault response office,” says SIV in an emailed statement.
“We still have serious concerns regarding a lack of community and expert consultation about these changes. Silence is Violence will be releasing a list of demands in the near future that will be proposed to York University during mediation with Mandi Gray at the Human Rights Tribunal,” they add.
Offering support for anyone who has experienced sexual violence, the Sexual Violence Response Office, as recommended by SIV, will operate during the interim period along a 24/7 phone line.
The Sexual Violence Policy Group continues to consult with student, staff and faculty groups over the fall term, with a submission to the Board of Governors planned for early 2017. York’s new policy follows Ontario’s Bill 132, which Sami describes as “a good step forward.”
“Universities across Ontario are rightly seized with the very serious issue of addressing the need for improved supports and procedures for victims of sexual violence,” she says. “At York, we made a commitment to strengthen measures to support survivors and to provide the safest possible environment for our community members.”
