Students, union want SFU to respond to sex assault allegations
'People are upset and they want answers.' says student newspaper editor
Students and some unionized staff at Simon Fraser University are calling on senior administrators to address sexual assault allegations against a male student, including charges that the alleged attacks prompted two young women to drop out.
University officials have confirmed that police are investigating three allegations of sexual assault made by three female students against a male student.
But apart from acknowledging that police are involved in a sex assault probe, the university has not commented on the issue, citing privacy and the ongoing investigation.
The tight-lipped response has angered some students and staff.
Nathan Ross, who is web news editor of the student paper, The Peak, said students want more details. Ross said students also want to know why SFU officials didn't warn students about the alleged attacker.
"There is anger," Ross said. "People are upset and they want answers. There is a concern that the administration is not doing enough now."
Ross said many students also want to know why the suspect wasn't removed from the Burnaby campus residence where he resided last term.
Marjorie Griffin Cohen, a SFU professor emeritus, said she doesn't think enough was done to protect the students who made the complaints.
Griffin Cohen, professor emeritus of political science and gender, sexuality and women's studies, said she knew one of the female complainants
Student not removed, says prof
Griffin Cohen said the young woman reported her alleged assault to campus security and police, but the university did not remove the male student from campus at that time.
"Everywhere she went, she was seeing him, which was quite terrifying to her," said Griffin Cohen, a professor emeritus of political science and gender, sexuality and women's studies,
Eventually, that woman and another female complainant left school, she said.
Ross said SFU students understand privacy rights and the need for due process, but they're concerned about safety.
"There is anger," Ross said. "People are upset and they want answers. There is a concern that the administration is not doing enough now."
Jon Driver, vice-president of academic and provost, said the male student who is the subject of the allegations is not on campus, but he did not say if he was suspended or expelled.
Under new legislation, universities across B.C. have until May of 2017 to come up with a strategic plan to deal with sexual assault.
Ross said the lack of response from senior administrators suggests they are more interested in protecting the university's reputation than ensuring the safety of students.
The Burnaby, B.C. university, which also has campuses in Vancouver and Surrey, is the latest to grapple with alleged sexual assaults involving students, after the University of B.C. and University of Victoria faced accusations they had mishandled reports of attacks.
Ross noted that other universities have policies to deal with students accused of violence.
Union 'deeply concerned'
For example, the University of Alberta can evict a student who is involved in "threatening, disruptive or violent conduct."
Deborah Eerkes, the U of A's director of student conduct and accountability, said the policy has been in place for more than a decade. She said universities must balance the rights of an alleged suspect with the safety of students.
"That question of how can you punish before (a suspect is tried), it has to be commensurate with the risk that exists."
Meanwhile the union representing teaching support staff at the university said it is "deeply concerned," with SFU's response to the assault allegations.
"Our members and the students they teach have a right to work and learn in an environment free from violence and harassment," said a statement from the Teaching Support Staff Union.
University president Andrew Petter did not respond to interview requests. Kurt Heinrich, a spokesman for the university, said in an emailed statement that "the university doesn't have anything further to add on the topic," citing Driver's Tuesday statement.
With files from The Canadian Press