UBC president Ono commends ‘thoughtful’ report on sexual assaults

The university embarked on creating a standalone sexual assault policy earlier this year after allegations it delayed taking action on multiple complaints about a male PhD student.

Ono said in an email to the campus community on Monday that UBC has made “significant strides” to improve its policies and practices for addressing and responding to sexual assaults.

A draft sexual assault policy was published in June. Public consultations on the policy will now be extended until Oct. 31 to allow for reflection on the panel’s recommendations, Ono said.

Ono, whose term began in mid-August, said he has also asked a “small working group” to make recommendations to the UBC executive about the appropriate processes, infrastructure and resources to best serve its community and support people who have been affected.

The university is also hosting sexual assault policy information sessions on both its Vancouver and Okanagan campuses this fall to provide an overview of the draft and answer questions.

“Engagement is vital if we are to improve and strengthen our university. I hope that you will engage in this worthwhile and important process,” Ono wrote in the email.

Last week, some panel members questioned why the report had not been published since it was submitted on June 20. Lucia Lorenzi, a PhD graduate with expertise in sexual assault, said she was frustrated at the lack of communication with the panel about why it had remained under wraps.

Lorenzi and fellow panel member Sarah Hunt, an indigenous studies professor at UBC, said last week that they only learned of the report’s imminent release through the media.

But associate vice-president of equity and inclusion Sara-Jane Finlay said it would have been ineffective to release the report in the summer when students and faculty were away. It was submitted at a time when interim UBC president Martha Piper’s term was just ending and Ono’s term had not yet begun, she added.

The six-member panel spoke with about 50 people and received emails from 40 others about the university’s handling of sexual assaults. It heard from many people that UBC had failed to demonstrate accountability, resulting in some students feeling they had no choice but to go to the media.

The report makes dozens of recommendations aimed at improving institutional accountability, education, prevention and an approach that focuses on the experiences of those who’ve been sexually assaulted when it comes to reports and disclosures.

It also calls for new disciplinary processes for students and faculty accused of sexual assault, standardized timelines for responding to complaints and a centralized office to co-ordinate response.

by The Canadian Press

UBC president Ono commends ‘thoughtful’ report on sexual assaults

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