Western Takes Proactive Stance on Sexual Violence
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westernnews.ca PM 41195534 November 27, 2014 / Vol. 50 No. 33 pages 8-9 ILLUSTRATION BY FRANK NEUFELD ILLUSTRATION Western takes proactive stance on sexual violence BY JASON WINDERS postsecondary institutions, a recent Toronto That last fact should be an eye-opener to extent – addressed by both the Code of Student Star investigation into sexual assault policies on every university, said Susan Grindrod, Western’s Conduct and Non-Discrimination/Harassment EDUCATING STUDENTS ABOUT sexual vio- Canadian campuses has drawn particular atten- associate vice-president (Housing and Ancillary Policy. lence is a topic Western refuses to shy away from tion to the ways universities are confronting the Services). A standalone university policy, however, ele- – instead, university officials said, they confront issue and assisting victims. “I have been asked many times why we need vates the issue within the community, Mandich the topic from Day One. At Western, the subject of sexual assault has a specific policy on this. My answer is because of said. “We start right away. Our demographics received intense attention for the last year. For our demographic. Universities are the statistics,” “A policy draws everyone’s attention to the are such that we feel we need to provide a lot many university officials, the issue gets to the she continued. “This is a special policy around an magnitude and importance of the issue,” she of education and awareness about issues like core of who universities serve. issue that impacts young people. And that’s who continued. “We take sexual assault and preven- consent,” said Angie Mandich, Western’s acting According to Statistics Canada, there are we have here – young people making decisions tion very seriously, to the point where we are one associate vice-president (Student Experience). about 512,000 incidents of sexual assault annu- on these things. So, we need to be prepared to of the few universities who have a specific policy “We try to bring all students into the ‘culture of ally, representing a rate of 1,977 incidents per deal with this. addressing this issue. We’re not only reacting, but caring’ we have here through initial awareness 100,000 in a population aged 15 and older. “Having a strong message from the top, along being proactive, in terms educating and raising and ongoing education that sexual assault is not Given approximately nine in 10 sexual assaults with a strong policy and set of guidelines about awareness among all our students so we create a acceptable under any circumstances.” go unreported, police-reported sexual assault how we’re going to handle this, lets everybody respective climate for all.” In the wake of a series of high-profile cases, counts are notably lower, with about 24,200 know this is an important issue here.” According to the Star’s findings, only nine which have dominated headlines on both sides sexual offences recorded by police. In September, Western adopted its first of 78 Canadian universities, and zero of 24 of the border, the public’s attention has been Victimization rates are dramatically higher standalone Policy on Sexual Violence. Prior to focused on sexual violence in recent weeks. For among those aged 15-24. that, sexual violence was – and still is to some SEXUAL VIOLENCE // CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 Western’s newspaper of record since 1972 2 Western News | November 27, 2014 upload your photos Coming Events NOV. 27-DEC. 3 # tag with #westernu @westernuniversity flickr.com/groups/western/ 27 // THURSDAY of the faculty present a musical tribute 1 // MONDAY LEARNING SKILLS SERVICES Mathematics, University of Toronto. to one of Russia’s celebrated compos- Writing Multiple-Choice Tests. Visit Academic wages, singularities, phase MCINTOSH GALLERY EXHIBIT ers. WORLD AIDS DAY 2014 sdc.uwo.ca/learning. transitions and pyramid schemes. 12:30 p.m. von Kuster Hall. 2:30 p.m. MC 204. 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LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES STUDENT SUCCESS DON WRIGHT DEPTARTMENT OF PHYSIOLOGY La Tertulia. Anyone wishing to speak CENTRE WORKSHOP FACULTY OF MUSIC AND PHARMACOLOGY THE CHINESE PROGRAM AT Spanish and meet people from dif- Summer job search. Summer work Voice Fridays with Laura Tucker. Christian Casanova, School of Op- HURON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE ferent Spanish-speaking countries is builds your resume, gives you ex- 1:30 p.m. von Kuster Hall. tometry, Université de Montréal. What Lunch and conversation. Anyone wish- welcome. [email protected]. posure to specific occupations, can can the extrageniculate thalamus tell ing to speak Chinese and meet people 4:30 p.m. UC 205. provide a steady income, a chance to WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL us about the visual cortex? All wel- who study Chinese at Huron is wel- network, and invaluable experience. Windsor at Western. come. come. Bring your own lunch and join ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSITION Now is the time to start your summer 7 p.m. 4 p.m. DSB 2016. the conversation. [email protected]. Students in the first-year Environ- job search. Register at westerncareer- 12:30-1:30 p.m. A18, Huron. mental Issues course at Western and central.ca. DON WRIGHT DON WRIGHT Huron University College will present 10:30-11:20 a.m. UCC 315 Council FACULTY OF MUSIC FACULTY OF MUSIC APPLIED MATHEMATICS their final group projects in a public Chambers. Sounds of the Spheres. Guest pro- Early Music Studio. COLLOQUIUM education format at the Environmen- tal Exposition. fessional choir, the Elmer Iseler Sing- 8 p.m. von Kuster Hall. Robert J. McCann, Department of DON WRIGHT ers, conducted by Lydia Adams, join 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. P&A Atrium FACULTY OF MUSIC Western’s own St. Cecilia Singers and Sojourns: The Wind Ensemble trav- Western University Singers, majesti- 2 // TUESDAY els the world, stopping to march with cally interweaving depictions of earth, Gustav Holst, waltz with Dmitri Shosta- sky and sea. Tickets $15/$10. Visit the SENIOR ALUMNI PROGRAM kovich and tango with John Mackey. Grand Theatre box office at tickets. What’s To Eat? How Canada’s agricul- 12:30 p.m. Paul Davenport Theatre. grandtheatre.com or call 519-672- ture and food industries are evolving. 8800. David Sparling, Chair of Agri-Food In- PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY 7:30 p.m. St. Peter’s Cathedral Ba- novation, Ivey Business School. COLLOQUIUM silica. 9:30 a.m. McKellar Room, UCC. Alex Buchel, Department of Applied Mathematics, Western. String Theory DON WRIGHT LEARNING SKILLS SERVICES approach to non-equilibrium dynam- FACULTY OF MUSIC Manage Test Stress. Visit sdc.uwo.ca/ POSTGRADUATE ics of strongly coupled systems. Jazz Ensemble. learning. 1:30 p.m. PAB 100. 8 p.m. Paul Davenport Theatre. 11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. WSSB 3130. CERTIFICATE LEARNING SKILLS SERVICES DON WRIGHT Essay Exam Essentials. Visit sdc.uwo. 29 // SATURDAY FACULTY OF MUSIC ca/learning. Contemporary music for violin, piano DON WRIGHT 2:30-3:30 p.m. WSSB 3134. and electronics. Véronique Mathieu, FACULTY OF MUSIC violin; Stephanie Chau, piano; and GRADUATE PROGRAM Masterclass with alumna Adrianne David Jeager, electronics. MIGRATION AND ETHNIC Pieczonka. 8 p.m. von Kuster Hall. FROM PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT RELATIONS COLLOQUIUM SERIES 3 p.m. von Kuster Hall. TO ADVERTISING, THIS PROGRAM Chris Anderson, Wilfrid Laurier Uni- versity. Telling Tales: Canadians and DON WRIGHT 3 // WEDNESDAY OFFERS THE UNIQUE SKILLS FACULTY OF MUSIC Asylum Seekers, Then and Now. YOU WILL NEED TO LAUNCH 4-5:30 p.m. SSC 5220. Refresh- Hodie. 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Free to anyone interested. 5:30 p.m. UCC 65. 11:30 a.m. UC 207. business.humber.ca/postgrad 28 // FRIDAY ENGAGE WESTERN Brings together engaged scholars, community members and special guests to share perspective and stories about the way academic in- stitutions partner with community organizations. Register at engagew- estern2014.eventbrite.ca. 8 a.m.–2 p.m. DON WRIGHT FACULTY OF MUSIC Rachmaninoff Celebration. Members Western News | November 27, 2014 3 Internationalization THE SECOND ANNUAL World’s Challenge right across our global village.” Student groups Challenge took place during Western Inter- Students are encouraged to form diverse national Week earlier this month.