An overhaul of orientation week activities and the appointment of a special advisor on campus culture and safety are among the actions Western University is taking to address concerns about on-campus gender-based and sexual violence.
The changes are in response to two newly released reports - one an internal committee report on gender-based and sexual violence and the other an independent review of university practices.
"We have listened to our campus community and our expert partners. Together with them, we want to be leaders in the work to prevent gender-based violence from happening on university campuses and throughout society,” Western President Alan Shepard said in a statement.
The reports were commissioned in response to online allegations that students were drugged and sexually assaulted during the post secondary institution’s orientation week last fall. An investigation into the allegations was launched by London police, but no one came forward to lodge a formal complaint.
“The impact of last September has rightly led us to look inward as an institution. We are re-examining our culture, our values, our policies and our approach to orienting students to campus life. And we are redoubling our efforts as a community to use this moment to generate real and lasting change,” Shepard said. “I am grateful to the hundreds of students, faculty, staff and members of the London community who have spoken up, offered their insight and expertise, and guided us throughout this process."
The two reports included similar recommendations, such as ongoing, mandatory gender-based and sexual violence prevention and awareness training for all students, staff, and faculty; the hiring of six additional special constables and 15 new security guards; increase security patrols and upgraded lighting and security cameras.
Western has now committed to a complete re-evaluation of Western’s orientation week (OWeek) activities. That will include working with student leaders and campus partners to plan programming that "contributes to a culture of shared values, academic success and student safety, and discourages over-consumption of alcohol and other recreational drugs," the university said.
A special advisory will be appointed to lead a new gender-based and sexual violence advisory committee in the coming weeks. That individual will report to the provost and vice-president of academics. The mandate of the committee will be to further consideration of the reports’ recommendations, and support for education, communication, and training initiatives aimed at prevention, safety and culture change.
It was announced earlier this year, all incoming Western students will be required to complete gender-based and sexual violence prevention and awareness training before arriving on campus. Those who don't complete the training could see their admission revoked.
Other actions being taken include the following:
Hiring an additional support case manager and a prevention and education coordinator; Launching a new, two-week intensive training program for all OWeek student leaders; Creating customized prevention training for Western special constables and other security personnel; Supporting autonomous student organizations, such as fraternities and sororities, in their effort to address the issue of gender-based and sexual violence; Applying to the Canada Research Chair program and Canada First Research Excellence Fund to support new academic positions focused on gender-based and sexual violence-related research.
"Changing culture will take time, persistence and the active engagement of all campus members to achieve. Together, we remain committed to actively working to end gender-based and sexual violence on campus and in our community," said Shepard.