Students Call for Action Following Allegations of Sexual Violence at Western University | The Canadian News

It’s a troubling time for Western University students, following reports of sexual violence in dorm rooms, classes resumed for the fall semester the same week.

The University has not provided details on the alleged incident, but said it is “investigating this weekend’s reports.”

“It’s so disturbing and believable,” said Jessie Li, a freshman who lives at Sydenham Hall.

Speaking to Global News, Li said he felt the University was “downplaying the situation.”

“I would like the University to take responsibility for this instead of sending a letter, saying there are rumors.”

Li said he wants the University to make sure that students are responsible and that the residence is a safe place for all students.

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Various social media posts have alleged that several students were drugged and several were sexually assaulted, although that has not been verified by Global News.

“We are very concerned about the incidents reported on social media this past weekend,” Chris Alleyne, Western Associate Vice President (Housing and Support Services) said in a statement.

In an internal memo sent to Medway and Sydenham Halls students, obtained by Global News, residency life coordinator Jacob Clark said “rumors of sexual or gender-based violence” are linked to those two residences.

When asked how they felt about the incident, several Western students expressed their displeasure with accusations like this that happened just as the school was restarting.

“Honestly, it’s pretty scary, I live down the street and even though I’m not in residence, I can only imagine what those girls and any other victims are going through,” said Tiara Simons, a Western sophomore.

Simons said he hopes a University investigation gets to the bottom of the situation and that whoever is responsible will be held accountable for their actions. “

When asked how he felt about the sexual assault allegations, Western third-year student Dylan said that, as a boy, it bothered him that other men did such a thing and that girls felt unsafe on campus.

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“I thought it was pretty disappointing, we just started and all these kids are in their first year so I can’t imagine how they feel about this being their first week away from school and all of this happens,” Tapp said. .

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In the past week, Western University reported receiving four formal complaints of sexual violence, none of which “appear to be related to each other or to what we are seeing on social media,” Alleyne said in her statement.

“So far we have received very little information related to these reports, and we are asking anyone with more details to come forward to the London or West police services.”

Alleyne said survivors have options and resources through the school’s gender-based and sexual violence policy, which allowed them to file a formal complaint or access resources without one.

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A statement from London police said they had received nothing from the weekend related to the incidents and opened an investigation into allegations of sexual assault at Medway-Sydenham Hall.

“We will work collaboratively with Western University to identify and support victims and ensure that a thorough investigation is conducted,” the statement read.

Police also confirmed that they were aware of two other reports in the past week about allegations of sexual assault that occurred elsewhere on campus and that both remain under investigation.

Following the allegations, Anova, a London-based organization that helps women and girls who experience gender-based sexual violence gain shelter and support posted on Twitter about the incident and how to support survivors.

“Western is particularly bad at sexual violence: According to the Student Voices Survey in 2019, 1/3 of students had been sexually assaulted in the past 12 months and 71% had been sexually harassed. Western had some of the worst numbers of all post-secondary campuses, ”the tweet read.

“What the women experienced at Western this weekend, while perhaps shocking, is unfortunately not out of the ordinary. How you respond to this event will inform survivors in your own life about whether you are a safe person to tell about your own experiences, ”Anova said in another tweet.

Anyone who has experienced sexual or gender-based violence can contact the Anova Crisis Line 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 519-642-3000.

© 2021 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.



Reference-globalnews.ca

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