Lakehead University to monitor, document sexual assaults

A Lakehead University task force is making recommendations to combat sexual assault on and off campus.

The committee was created last fall after a student went public describing an alleged sexual assault by a classmate.

One of the recommendations, already approved by the Board of Governors, will see sexual assault statistics made public.

"We need to know what is happening, we need to document it accurately, and hopefully then we can monitor a reduction in those assaults over time," said Lori Chambers the chair of the task force.

"It's always important when trying to solve a problem to be able to name it accurately." 

The task force also recommends increased education around sexual misconduct.

"What will change is that there is this focus on education and prevention of sexual assault on campus, that it is recognized as a really traumatic thing that can possibly happen to, in particular, women," said Jayal Chung, who coordinates the student union's gender issues centre.

Chung, a participant in the task force, said it's critical to educate all students about sexual violence and harassment as soon as they arrive for orientation.

The Canadian Federation of Students reports that many sexual assaults occur during the first eight weeks of classes.

Chung said one of the most important things to discuss is what consent means "and allowing safe spaces to ask questions and have conversations about consent." 

Another critical component of the orientation is letting students know about support services for victims, she said.

The university is creating an office to oversee the implementation of the task force recommendations.