ANTIGONISH: A local university now has guidelines in place to respond to reports of sexual assault.
Last week, StFX University unveiled a new policy overseeing the handling and prevention of sexual assault.
The policy includes language making sure the StFX Community Code of Conduct is followed when dealing with cases of sexual violence; ensuring individuals’ right to be believed upon reporting sexual violence, as well the right to dignity, respect, fairness, and due process; and assistance for those who experienced sexual violence by providing detailed information and support.
The policy also addresses attitudes and behaviours deemed harmful, provides education and training to the StFX community, and promotes student engagement.
StFX president Kent MacDonald said the policy came together over the course of a year.
“It is something that we have addressed through our president’s colloquium, it’s built into our orientation system,” said MacDonald.
“It’s a conversation we have tried to have and become even more serious about and yet a policy needed to be developed.”
MacDonald said faculty, staff, and students all had roles in crafting the policy.
Should a report of a sexual offence occur, MacDonald said the first step is taking the report seriously.
“We also set out a series of justice, in terms of treating the accused in a fair way and we have a series of processes in place so we’ll be able to handle it in an expedited way and be able to do it in a fair and open way,” he said.
“We can’t just bury our head at this university or any others or in our community. Sexualized violence is one of the worst forms of crime and we are taking that very seriously here at StFX.”