'We let our students and families down': Western unveils sexual violence plan on eve of walk out
Fed up with sexual violence on and around Western University’s London, Ont. campus, students will push for change on Friday.
Students will stage a walk out before engaging in a march around campus to express support for survivors of sexual violence.
“We now have a channel to express how we feel regarding the incidents that happened this past weekend,” explains co-organizer Emily Poirier. “A lot of people hope this will bring about tangible change.”
London police are investigating allegations of up to 30 drug-related sexual assaults in a residence last weekend.
Unrelated, police have confirmed they were already investigating three complaints of sexual violence since the start of the semester.
“People are still very much afraid and on edge,” adds Poirier.
Less than a day before the walk out, Western administration unveiled a new Action Plan on Sexual Violence, including:
- all 5,300 students living in residences will be required to take in-person training on sexual violence, consent, and personal safety starting September 20.
- hiring up to 100 students to act as safety ambassadors in residences
- hiring four new special constables to enhance patrols until 3am.
- create a Task Force to address campus culture.
“We let our students and families down,” admits western President Alan Shepard.
Ontario’s Ministry of Colleges and Universities has also announced regulatory amendments for post secondary institutions in the province that update their sexual violence policies to include:
- Victims reporting in good faith will no longer risk punishment for violating alcohol/drug policies at the time the sexual violence occurred.
- Students reporting sexual violence will no longer be asked irrelevant questions involving their sexual history or sexual expression.
“These were recommendations that came forward to the government through ongoing consultations we’ve been having with the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance,” explains Minister of Colleges and Universities Jill Dunlop.
Poirier hopes that the walk out’s impact extends beyond Western’s campus.
“Make this not just a Western University change, but a change for all universities in Ontario, and hopefully it spreads to other places in Canada and North America.”
The walk out begins at noon with a gathering on University College hill.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Powerful tornado tears across Nebraska, weather service warns of 'catastrophic' damage
Devastating tornadoes tore across parts of eastern Nebraska and northeast Texas Friday as a multi-day severe thunderstorm event ramped up in the central United States, injuring at least three people.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.