Brandon University releases campus sexual assault task force recommendations

Brandon University will establish a sexual assault response and prevention team as part of nine recommendations put forward by a task force on sexual violence at the institution.

The university released the task force's recommendations Tuesday, hours after BU president and vice-chancellor Gervan Fearon and members of BU administration spoke to reporters and students about the school's use of a behavioural contract in a sexual assault case.

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"Clearly there will be education, clearly there will be training," he said Tuesday. "And some of that we have already started on." 

The task force also recommended the school develop a comprehensive sexual assault policy, something administrators said Tuesday was already in the works, and improve education and accountability. 

It also recommended BU clarify roles and responsibilities for support and resources, develop a process for handling sexual violence complaints, improve training and promote a violence-adverse culture.  

Task force made up of faculty members 

The task force was made up of several faculty members, including the dean of health studies, an HR officer and a professor in the faculty of education. External consultation was also sought, the school said. 

Students asked why student representation or gender studies professors were not on the task force. Fearon said the task force was sensitive to the message of gender and women's studies professors, and they were free to speak with whomever they wished. 

The task force was struck as a result of a reported sexual assault on campus last fall. 

Fearon told reporters Tuesday that the school has already acted on a recommendation not to use behavioural contracts in sexual assault cases. 

A policy should be ready by September, he said.

Prof critical of task force 

Corinne Mason, a gender and women's studies professor at BU, declined to speak with CBC News following Tuesday's press conference but posted reaction on Twitter later in the evening. 

"The survivor was never interviewed or given an advocate. Her supports are not on the task force or policy team," she tweeted.

Mason asked several questions at Tuesday's press conference, which was attended by numerous students and faculty members as well as media. 

Fearon admitted the school made a mistake and said he regretted of the incident, but Mason was critical of how the school handled the situation. 

"The survivor found out that the [behavioural] contract is null and void TODAY alongside the media," she also tweeted. 

"Students and faculty connected the student survivor with supports," she said in another. "The survivor was never interviewed or given an advocate. Her supports are not on the task force or policy team."

Mason and several students were also critical Tuesday of the fact the policy will be crafted over the summer months, when few students are at the school to provide input. 

Team working on sexual assault policy 

"We want to have a cross-functional team of people put together, heavily weighted towards students," human resources officer Sharon Hooper said of the team that will be working on the policy. "We've been in contact with BUSU (Bradon University Students Union) … to tee this up." 

Hooper admitted timing could be an issue as the school year ends soon. Some students in attendance expressed their frustration with the fact the policy committee will be working over the summer months. 

'Airing BU's Dirty Laundry' set up on campus 

We Believe Survivors, a campus group that uncovered the behavioural contracts, set up a display at BU Wednesday called Airing BU's Dirty Laundry to raise awareness about sexual assault on campus.

As of Wednesday afternoon, more than two dozen stories and messages of support had been hung up in a university common area. 

"We've had more and more students throughout the day write down a lot of statements of solidarity," said Stefon Irvine with We Believe Survivors. "It's just really heartwarming to know that people do care about the survivors that are here on campus." 

Irvine said the support for not only the display, but for the whole cause, has been overwhelming. 

From here we have to make sure that we don't let the fire under the administration die out," he said. "We have to make sure we are ready and to ask and demand change." 

Irvine said the group is demanding an apology from the school for all suriviors of sexual violence past and present.