Dalhousie dentistry scandal a call to action, says student union
DSU vice-president says university needs to work to rebuild students' trust
A task force report that criticized Dalhousie University's Faculty of Dentistry as being rife with sexism, misogyny and homophobia is a call to action, says the vice-president of the Dalhousie Student Union.
Kathleen Reid says the university has work to do to rebuild students' trust and to make positive changes.
-
Dalhousie dentistry report: University had culture of 'misogyny, homophobia and racism'
-
Constance Backhouse says Dalhousie dentistry report shows need for change
"The result can be a positive systemic change, so the fact that all of these things have happened and this report has come forward, we're really hoping to see the university take action and be a leader."
The task force was appointed following the publicizing of a Facebook page called the Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen, in which fourth-year male dentistry students' posted violent sexual comments about female classmates. They included a poll about having "hate" sex with female students and drugging women.
The 13 men who belonged to the group were suspended from clinic work and participated in a restorative justice program.
The report, which included interviews from 150 students, staff, faculty and members of the public, calls for systemic change at the university.
"Given the number, the duration and the range of people who told us about [complaints], they cannot be dismissed as isolated," the report says.
The student union, which defended the female dentistry students who complained about the Facebook page, was the target of a backlash, Reid acknowledged.
But she said the attention caused by the scandal resulted in positive action, as it drew attention to sexism throughout the university.
"The DSU believe it showcases the fact that this is not just a problem within the faculty of dentistry. It's a problem with the entire institution. It's not a case-by-case basis, it's not one bad apple, it's a whole institution."
The student union also endorses the creation of an ombudsman office, common among other Canadian universities, Reid said.