It becomes more about the school than it is about the student
Participant 1: I'm going to add something directly to what you just said about how it's discouraged to talk to the police. I agree with that because when I went through this with my friend who was assaulted, it was never brought up. It was all on her to say, "I don't know if I want this to go to the police," but nobody actually told her that was an option. I feel like it becomes more about the school than it is about the student. That's the first thing you see when something comes out in the news: "MSVU student." It's not about the person; it is more about upholding the status that the school has built. So that is concerning to me because if you are involved in a very traumatic and violent event, it has to reach a point where someone says, "I think you should go to the police." It's not like you can force them to do that, because it is at the student's discretion, but I think that it is really important that they know it is an option if this is something that has - it changes your life. [...]
Participant 2: Nobody asked if I was okay; nobody asked if I needed medical attention; nobody said "do you want to report to police?" It was all about keeping it internal.
Recommendations
-
Describe possible legal and institutional consequences for respondents found to have engaged in sexual violence. Provide indication of the range of consequences likely to follow a range of policy violations.
-
Engage external investigators to adjudicate all sexual assault cases. Describe the process by which investigators are selected within the policy. Communicate this process to complainants and respondents.
-
Identify how long reports are kept on file and the process involved if/when responding to a report concerning a previously accused respondent.