By: Morgan Li

Recently, the Hamilton Spectator published an article announcing, in a sneering mix of opinion and loose fact, that McMaster is “developing an anti-disruption policy”. The decision appears to be prompted by the vicious right-wing backlash to Mac’s alleged failure to protect freedom of speech on campus, particularly in the wake of Jordan Peterson’s visit to campus last March.

In the article, Andrew Dreschel references a poor grade assigned to Mac’s practices and policies of “free speech” by a Campus Freedom Index. This index is compiled by the Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms, a purportedly “independent and nonpartisan” non-profit organization. Their website presents an attractive face, framing the group as being in defence of respectable concepts like freedom, equality and constitutional freedoms. However, upon even the slightest further glance, this crafted image of impartiality falls apart.

The JCCF was founded, and continues to be led by John Carpay, a failed right-wing politician affiliated with a number of conservative advocacy groups and think tanks. The cases it chooses to take on and defend under the guise of free speech show a clear partisan bias. Their latest legal challenge is against Alberta’s Bill 24, which would prohibit outing LGBTQ+  children in gay-straight alliances. Previous JCCF lawsuits have taken up the case of an anti-LGBTQ+ couple that was barred from adopting children, a marriage commissioner whose license was revoked for refusing to marry same-gender couples as well as various anti-abortion organizations that have faced opposition.

That it has also decided to take issue with student-led protest of Jordan Peterson, most known for his refusal to correctly gender non-binary transgender students, is unsurprising. The rallying cry for “freedom of speech” that the JCCF, as well as many of those it defends, is so fond of wielding is one that has long been used by the far-right to obscure their activities and ideological agenda.

An article in the Torontoist from July this year explains this in detail, grounding it in a fairly recent history of white nationalist organizing in Toronto. Writer O. Berkman provides a background on Paul Fromm, a well-known self-identified white nationalist, and his cohort. Then a young University of Toronto student in the middle of a growing anti-war movement, Fromm and his fellows’ political involvement had begun in the condemnation of so-called far-left extremism and “leftist troublemakers”.

Under the guise of concern over their “right to dissent”, he has voiced support of (in his own words) American Nazis, Holocaust deniers and other white supremacists for decades, eventually establishing the Canadian Association for Free Expression for that very reason. All of these are talking points that should sound familiar to anybody who has been engaged in today’s campus politics.

More recently, the emergence and activities of student groups like the Students Supporting Free Speech at the University of Toronto have followed a close enough course to elicit deep concern. While arguing for the right of free speech of Jordan Peterson, the Halifax Five and similar figures against an “intolerant left”, SSFS has managed a dubious feat of drawing Fromm himself to one of their events. That the invocation of constitutional freedoms is little more than a deflection becomes particularly apparent too when we ask who, faced with institutional censure, isn’t afforded these defences. In the United States, Johnny Eric Williams, Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor and George Ciccariello-Maher, to name only a few, have been subject to far more severe and immediate consequences than Jordan Peterson for little to no justifiable reason, and these often accompanied by threats of violence and murder.

Politically motivated campaigns across the country now target progressive campus organizations, such as the Ontario Public Interest Research Group and other PIRGs, or McGill’s Daily Publications Society, for defunding. Rather than emerging to decry these, the groups that supposedly exist to innocuously protect freedom of expression are comfortably silent or, at times, even participate in these attacks.

Only in the last few weeks, University of Toronto faculty have expressed alarm over Jordan Peterson’s professed intentions to create a website to identify and advocate for the removal of university courses that he finds politically objectionable. By no coincidence, these are largely, in his own words, “women’s studies, and all the ethnic studies and racial studies”— fields of study that centre marginalized populations often left out of more mainstream curricula.

Similarly, it should be noted who it is to most vocally speak out against the right-wing campus demagogues that operate under the pretence of respectability — students who are more often than not racialized, transgender, women, queer and/or holding other marginalized identities.

The eagerness with which the McMaster administration now concedes to what are barely veiled right-wing demands is unacceptable, all the while it comes as utterly predictable.

Through these “anti-disruption” guidelines, Mac continues to demonstrate how the university remains a colonial institution that, complicit in transantagonism and white supremacy, will always capitulate to the far-right. Institutional condemnation of the “rowdy” students who stand against Peterson and his ilk, long now known to be responsible for harassment and violence towards activists, can and should be understood as a direct attack on trans, racialized and other marginalized students on campus. Make no mistake: no part of this debacle has ever truly been about free speech, and it is a victory to the far right when we accept any attempt to frame it that way.

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By: Alex Bak

Through the various “frat” Instagram accounts that often boast drunk endeavours and the typical mishaps of college students and the advertisements of beer paraphernalia, it became apparent that fraternity life has been coined into a lifestyle brand for college student.

What people often forget in the midst of all the advertisements and representations on social media is that these secret Greek letter societies were formed for the betterment of bonds between the respective brothers and sisters in the community.

The jaded view that fraternities often get at McMaster as a boisterous pack of mindless partygoers does not do their other pillars justice. I hope this piece can shed some light on the growing impact that fraternities have in the McMaster and Hamilton community and destigmatize the image of Greek life.

In my journey as an active member of the Mu Delta chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, I have witnessed numerous achievements by the efforts of the brothers that have changed my view on the supposed lifestyle of fraternities.

Through the various challenges that disguises the true intent of PiKA, the yearly chart-topping fundraising in support of the McMaster Relay for Life and the pints of blood donated for the McMaster Stem Cell Drive, I have been proud to be a part of the phenomenal support that a student organization can give to other student initiatives.

Even in the next few weeks there will be brothers shaving their heads for the Shave for a Cure initiative. This does not go to say that only one Greek life society is attributed to this cause. The growing Greek life at McMaster is responsible for a good portion of the unseen volunteer environment.

In my journey as an active member of the Mu Delta chapter of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, I have witnessed numerous achievements by the efforts of the brothers that have changed my view on the supposed lifestyle of fraternities.

Imbued by a sense of collective ownership of the university and as stakeholders of the community’s growth, even more students will participate in these determinations of their peers as the brothers have done.

In a seemingly unnaturally inclusive environment, the status of faculty or years become irrelevant leading to a bridging of a gap between lower and upper years that wouldn’t occur in any other typical, post-secondary situation.

This leads to a unique environment, in which both seniors and freshmen are able to benefit and empower each other and push each other to strive for more than they could individually. The group not only works to empower those within the fraternity, but also seeks out the best interest of others in the community by dedicating their time to extracurricular charity work.

My time as a brother has helped me learn that university is so much more than a degree. When your kids ask you about your time at McMaster and wonder about the university experience on day, will you be stumped in trying to remember what you did here, or will you be able to flaunt your involvement with the McMaster community with pride?

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Students can now find two My Lil’ Health Bots on campus. Carrying over 50 personal health and care products, these touch-screen vending machines have been placed in Mary Keyes Residence and the Commons Building.

Tim Decker co-founded My Lil’ Healthmart with a mission to make necessities such as Advil, shampoo and toothpaste convenient and accessible to students.

Before the introduction of these vending machines, the only places one could find all of these products were in the pharmacy in the McMaster  Student University Centre. The convenience store in MyMiniMac offers some basic tolietries. The McMaster Students Union Student Health Education Centre also offers some heatlh and care products, free of charge, such as condoms, lubricant and menstrual products.

None of these locations, however, are available 24/7. The pharmacy is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Monday to Thursday and from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

My Mini Mac closes at midnight most nights, with the exeption of Saturday, when it closes at 10 p.m.

MSU SHEC is open from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday to Thursday and from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Friday.

“We've all been there, where it's late, it's cold and you need something but you either can't get it or it's too far away so you want it, but you don't want to go get it,” said Decker. “Most people suffer through and end up making that trip.”

Carrying over 50 personal health and care products, these touch-screen vending machines have been placed in Mary Keyes Residence and the Commons Building.

After bringing his vending machines to a few other Canadian universities, including Wilfrid Laurier University and University of Toronto (Mississauga), Decker reached out to Chris Roberts, the head of McMaster hospitality services, who expressed interest in introducing My Lil’ Health Bots to McMaster.

This initiative comes along during what some critics are calling the undergraduate mental health crisis, with one Maclean’s survey finding 14 per cent of all students surveyed in poor mental health and 31 per cent saying their mental health was affecting their ability to perform academically.

Although it is not the case for every individual, in some cases stress and anxiety may compromise someone’s immune system, making them more suseptible to physical illness.

Though the vending machines have just been set up, they are already making a tangible difference.

"When school gets stressful, especially during exam season, I know a lot of students neglect to prioritize their own health,” said Parnika Godkhindi, a first year arts and science student. “Having this machine so close by makes it easier for students to set aside time to take care of themselves."

My Lil’ Health Bots also allow students to buy personal care products without being scrutinized by employees and ensures that its products are affordable.

“We hope to benefit students by making access to health and personal care products more convenient but also just as affordable as other alternatives,” said Decker. “This is why we price our products to the closest local competitor.”

The vending machines also accept student card.

When asked what’s in store for the future of My Lil’ Healthmart, Decker said he hopes to expand to every campus in North America.

McMaster is fortunate to be one of the first Canadian post-secondary institutions to work with My Lil’ Healthmart.

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McMaster is nearing the end of its 2016-2017 school year. Graduation is looming for many, exams are on the horizon and the excitement for summer has warmed up with the weather. While students are looking towards the post-exam season, we unfortunately, still have a month left of groaning about how final exams aren’t an accurate measure of our knowledge.

Here is a list of 11 things you can do to prepare emotionally and physically for your exams.

  1. Self-care
    • Take time to do things that make your feel good. This could be as elaborate as planning a hike to Tiffany Falls, or as simple as taking a shower in the morning. Taking care of yourself should be your top priority.
  2. Visit friends
    • Make time for your friends, even if it’s just for coffee or a board game night. It can help put exams out of your mind. This could be the last time you get to hang out with them before the end of the term.
  3. One last 1280 night
    • If you were attached to 1280 in any way, it’s customary for you and your OG crew to throw it back to first year when you religiously attended the campus club. If you’re graduating, take the night to relish the old memories and watered down alcohol.
  4. Clean your room
    • If you can muster up enough energy and time to get it done, cleaning your room can be a cathartic experience. Not only is swiffering oddly satisfying, but having a tidy space can contribute to good mental health.
  5. Light Up the Night - April 6th
    • The MSU’s last hurrah for the year, and the night that your extra money (which you already paid to the MSU) gets spent on rides, food trucks and fireworks. The whole campus gets lit up and celebrates the end of another completed year.
  6. Buy groceries
    • Stock up on some brain food to help you survive the late night study munchies. Having a full-ish cupboard can make any day brighter when you realize that you have a granola bar to grab while you’re quickly running out the door to catch your bus.
  7. Hand in missing assignments
    • Time to make one last plea to your profs you’ve never met before. That participation mark isn’t going to participate itself, so, if you can, try to make it up. Handing in those missing assignments, even if you’re getting docked 40 per cent for lateness, can still make you feel like you have a chance to pass.
  8. Apply for 2017/2018 MSU positions including here at the Sil!
    • The MSU is hiring for MANY different positions within the union. Apply now to secure a job for next year. https://www.msumcmaster.ca/jobs
  9. Get away for a weekend
    • Whether it be a family member's house, or a tent in the woods, getting away for a weekend can help reset your troubled mind. If it’s with your family, you can milk those free, homemade meals and if you decide to make a solo trip, you can
  10. Study
    • You should probably get started.
  11. Cry

 

Featured Image c/o Jazmin Quaynor // StockSnap.io

By: Moleen Makumborenga

The first thing I notice in lower year courses is an utter disdain of the diversity on campus. I do not know if my experiences were exclusive to my proximity to lower-year students or if they are an objective characteristic of the McMaster environment. I am convinced that it is the latter.

Earlier this term in a tutorial for an introductory course, our teaching assistant mentioned that the professor was kindly asking that students minimize moving and speaking during lectures. A Caucasian male in the class retorted, “Well, to our defence, she’s quiet and she’s foreign.” I was confused because I was unsure how he made the connection between the students being distractive and the professor being foreign.

How did this guy even know the professor was foreign? Was it her skin colour? And if so, are all Canadians White? Perhaps it was her accent, which again does not allow you to make the conclusion that she is foreign since it is entirely plausible can speak two languages. I also wondered why he thought the professor did not deserve common courtesy because she was “foreign”. His reasoning was null and void so I ignored the statement in its entirety.

In another incident, several Caucasian students took pictures of students of colour during a lecture and proceeded to make racial caricatures of the images. The professor in the class handled the incident in an outstanding manner, and at the time I was able to compartmentalize the incident as an outlier.

Later on, in December, someone put a post on Facebook page Spotted at Mac about a conversation she had overheard amongst fellow students saying how uncomfortable they are, “… with all the [people of different] colours on campus.” We can discredit the post because for all we know it could have been a troll in Siberia, but we cannot discredit the comments that ensued. A friend of mine and I had a conversation about the post and she said that she had spoken to a fellow Caucasian student who concurred that he was not entirely sure if “… the diversity thing works.”

I do not think any of the individuals, male, female, orange or gay, are racist except for the ones who did the caricatures. This is not what this piece is about. I still think that people at McMaster are inherently good and I think we all try hard to accommodate each other. But these incidences are a symptom that our diversity programs do not bother to adjust for. Members of the communities targeted attend plenty of diversity events, but are they the only ones who need to know about these things?

I do not know if my experiences were exclusive to my proximity to lower year students or if they are an objective characteristic of the McMaster environment. I am convinced that it is the latter.

Diversity programs at McMaster are successful at providing safe spaces for minority groups, but are failing to reach the masses about privilege.

I can never forget about being Black, but the privilege of being White allows you to take certain social interactions for granted. As a Black person, when I hear someone say they are freaked out by people of different races, they are effectively saying that I am taking up space that I should not be allowed in.

McMaster needs to take a page from the University of Manitoba, which has made it mandatory for every student to take at least one class on Aboriginal studies as a requirement for graduation. That university knows that if you never teach people with privilege about their privilege, it is less likely they will know how to extend courtesy to minority groups.

I think a little bit of that is about racial prejudice, but it is also about people not knowing how to politely navigate social circles with minorities. Even though people from minority groups are not obligated to make people of privilege feel comfortable about their presence, adjusting one’s privilege is not common sense. I have had to teach my White friends what is appropriate and what is not, and I think we need to come up with resources where the school can effectively do that on a large scale.

By: Frances Anderson

Article contains mentions of sexual assault

People are quick to believe that Canadian citizens are much more respectful than Americans, but this ceases to be true when it comes to sexual assault on university campuses.

McMaster released a new sexual violence policy on Jan. 1, 2017, but why should that concern any of McMaster’s students when Canadian universities are not required to go public with the amount of sexual assaults that occur on the university’s campus? We do not know how much of an influence the policy has had, will have, or the full extent of what it is locally based on.

According to a study done by BMC Women’s Health, more than one in every four women has been assaulted at Canadian universities. In comparison, in the United States, who announce assaults when they occur, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network states that 23.1 per cent of women have been sexually assaulted on a university campus. Additionally, the film called The Hunting Ground claims that one in five American students from a university are sexually assaulted. Not only are the statistics for rape and sexual assault while in college or university shocking, but the Canadian statistics are slightly worse than the American statistics.

In the United States, the Patsy Mink Equal Opportunity in Education Act forbids any kind of discrimination based off of sex in any educational institution that is federally funded. This federal law is used to protest poor handling processes of sexual assault cases since it is more commonly an issue for women than it is for men. Unfortunately, Canada does not have this law in place. This means that the future of the victim remains solely the responsibility of the university and their administrators.

Another observation that has been made is at the beginning of a school year, there tends to be some awareness of sexual assault prevention with things such as “#consent” posters around McMaster. By the start of the second semester, there are no more posters within sight. A paper in the Journal of American College Health mentions a period of time called the red zone, which is at the start to a term of a first and second year university student. This red zone is the time when a student is most likely to be assaulted. Since assaults happen all year round and not just at the beginning of the first term, the posters should not be taken down as they were a reminder for people to ask for consent. The conversations about sexual assault should not end when the red zone does.

Although we cannot instantaneously get rid of sexual assault for good, there are many ways that people can help to change the frightening statistics. Universities need to spread more awareness of the issue so students can take the proper safety precautions to prevent any incidents or to change their behaviours toward sex and can effectively know how to ask for consent. More Canadian statistics on the issue need to be put out through academic resources so that Canadian citizens are able to do their research and see how safe or unsafe they truly are. Lastly, it would be helpful if Canada took a second look into reporting the amount of assaults that occur on university campuses, so that students would realize that they are not as safe as they think and ultimately become more inclined to participate in life-saving programs.

If you are a student or a person who knows a post-secondary student, it is time to start a conversation about how we as Canadian students are not as safe as we always think.

Resources on campus

Equity and Inclusion Office 

Provides confidential complaint resolution according to the University’s Sexual Harassment Policies.

MUSC Room 212

(905) 525-9140 x. 27581ter.ca

Megan Ross

Sexual Violence Response Coordinator

(905) 525-9140 x. 20909

rossm4@mcmaster.ca

SHEC

Provides confidential peer support, referrals on and off campus, anonymous and confidential pregnancy testing.

(905) 525-9140 x. 22041

shec@msu.mcmaster.ca

Student Wellness Centre 

Provides a wide range of counselling options and medical services and testing.

(905) 525-9140 x. 27700

wellness@mcmaster.ca

WGEN

Provides confidential support for all victims of sexual assault

(905) 525-9140 x. 20265

wgen@msu.mcmaster.ca

Year after year, the Student Representative Assembly and McMaster Students Union executives bring Library Hour Extension into their campaigns and year after year, nightowl students continue to see the library facilities closed for the evening.

This begs the serious question of why student demand is not being translated into longer schedules. Quite simply, it is because of finances.

More elaborately, the potential for library buildings to fully accommodate students 24/7 is stunted due to a lack of library staff, not to mention concerns for student safety.

“Lots of MSU campaigns over the last few years discussed extended hours and I think part of it is just that [students] do not understand how costly it can get if we just leave the library open for a long period of time and there is no one is there,” said Anne Pottier, Associate University Librarian.

“Currently, our hands are already tied with the financial commitment of night hours. We require one guard at Mills, one at Innis and two guards at Thode because of the building size. It gets up there… I feel that we are on the neighbourhood of spending $50,000 to $70,000 a year between all three places,” she said.

For security reasons, the library is required to have an invigilator at all hours. As a result, extending library hours is not as simple as changing the numbers on the schedule. “We have to hire third party security guards in order to keep the library open at night when there aren’t enough library staff,” Pottier added.

For the past six years, the libraries have run under staggered schedule during different parts of the semester. The libraries try to optimize their hours based on student need.

“I look at the peaks and valleys of the term, and when students need access to the library for a longer period of time. We try to keep the three libraries as consistent as possible,” explained Pottier.

For the first two weeks of the semester, the libraries have condensed hours and often close at 4:45 p.m. The closing times are gradually stretched to 10:45 p.m. and following the mid-term recess, the Mills Learning Commons is extended to 24 hours, and Innis hours are extended until 2:45 a.m. During exam season, Thode library becomes open 24/7.

“We try to justify when students will need the space and then how we man the space,” she said. “Security guards are asked to do head counts on an hourly basis. They tell me how many people are there every night so that I can sense how well the hours are working.”

Despite the efforts of the library to balance costs with student satisfaction, library closing times remain a struggle for some students.

“[Libraries] close way too early with the only option of going to a noisy Mills Commons at night. As a place of study, extended hours for all libraries will benefit all students without having them seek suboptimal areas around campus to study,” expressed Enoch Tin, a second-year health sciences student.

While a large-scale library hour extension is likely off the table at the moment, the library has accommodated student requests in the past. The Innis library quiet study hours are the result of past MSU president Ehima Osazuwa, and late night study at Thode was also a direct result collaboration with the MSU.

Library hours

Mills Library

Mon. to Thurs. - 8a.m. - 10:45p.m.

Fri. - 8a.m - 5:45p.m.

Sat. - 10:30a.m. - 5:45p.m.

Sun. - 12p.m. - 10:45p.m.

Mills Commons

Mon. to Thurs. - 24hrs

Fri. - 8a.m. - 9:45p.m.

Sat. - 10:30a.m. - 9:45p.m.

Sun. - 12p.m. - 12a.m.

Innis Library 

Mon. to Thurs. 8:30a.m. - 2:45a.m.

Fri. - 8:30a.m. - 6:45p.m.

Sat. - Closed

Sun. - 1:00p.m. - 7:45p.m.

Health Sciences Library

Mon. to Thurs. 8a.m. - 10:45p.m.

Fri. - 8a.m. - 9:45p.m.

Sat. - 10:30a.m. - 5:45p.m.

Thode Library

Mon. to Thurs. - 8a.m. - 10:45p.m.

Fri. - 8a.m. - 9:45p.m.

Sat. - 10:30a.m. - 5:45p.m.

Sun. - 12p.m. - 10:45p.m.

Open 24 hours during exams

 

Yikes. It’s 2k17 and the winter semester is already well underway, but we still wish we could live in holiday limbo. Here are some reasons why:

1. The Weather

It’s probably the same as it was when you were happily tucked away in your house back home, but at Mac the weather just seems worse. The commute to school is icy, and the rain-snow roller coaster makes you not know how to dress. Not to mention when you get out of class at 5:30 is almost pitch black outside. Bring on the hibernation and being trapped in your house until spring.

2. Your Housemates

Watch solitude disappear as your housemates slowly descend back into your humble student abode. Gone are the days that you can wander around naked without worry, or use the bathroom for extended amounts of time without being questioned. Back to school means back to fighting over space in the fridge and listening to your housemate fuck their partner well into the night. KEEP IT DOWN.

3. The Busy Pulse

The New Year, New Bod crowd has arrived. If you’re a gym regular, you’ll probably be annoyed at the longer lines for equipment and the busy change rooms but try to remember that everyone needs to start somewhere. Quell your anger by doing a good deed and offer to help a newbie who’s looking confused by the squat rack.

4. Responsibilities

Grocery shoppin’, bill payin’ & fixin’ OSAP problems. Coming back from our mini vaycays seems to amplify the problems we forgot last semester. In addition to navigating new class schedule, we also have to think about all our yearly responsibilities. Don’t forget to schedule your new year's doctors appointments, STI tests, and hair cuts.

5. Presidentials

‘Tis, the season for MUSC, to be covered with posters, election talk, and cut-throat opinionated Facebook posts. (Fun Fact: You can submit these opinions to the Sil). The rest of January will be filled with the annoyance of friends discussing the debate or anticipation to see if your favourite candidate will win.

 

Featured Image via PicJumbo

That did not take long.

Less than two weeks after Donald Trump was elected president of the United States of America, the intolerance that propelled him to victory has landed on the McMaster campus.

Coming to work at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, I was greeted with posters advocating for “alt-right” websites. They were in the hallways; they were on our office door.

To clarify, alt-right is the term for a political movement that “emphasizes cultural and racial homogeneity within different countries” according to the Southern Poverty Law Center. The SPLC is an organization that monitors hate groups and extremists.

The person who coined the term, Richard Spencer, refused to condemn those who drew graffiti swastikas following the election, said it was okay for people to wear Ku Klux Klan garments if that is how they wanted to express themselves, and said “hail Trump” while putting up a Nazi salute at a recent alt-right conference. Spencer writes for a website that was linked on one of these posters.

The Silhouette has a duty to report on hate crimes on campus. And make no mistake, these posters are hate crimes. The links on those websites argue “mass immigration is destroying the Anglo/French/European character of Canada” and that whites are better than “all other races combined.”

This is white nationalism and white supremacy.

However, our coverage could have been better. I should have blurred out the links on the posters because I was inadvertantly promoting their cause. This is something we will use as a learning opportunity moving forward.

For those who believe we should not have covered it and simply ignored it, I suggest that you read a book, maybe even a history textbook from high school.

Racism and intolerance is fuelled by the ignorance of those who believe they are not affected. If you sit passively and hope that the hate will subside, you haven’t been paying attention.

The United States Holocaust Museum’s words from a press release condemning the references to Jews and other minorities at an alt-right conference are poignant: “The Holocaust did not begin with killing, it began with words.”

The Silhouette will continue to report on these instances should they happen, and I expect McMaster University to be as vigilant as ever in preventing and addressing these acts.

After months of planning, McMaster has released its first draft of its new policy against sexual assault.

The policy comes from the Liberal government’s “It’s Never Okay” policy, which was passed in March 2015. The draft was first made public on Oct. 28.

The policy updated sexual assault and harassment policies in Ontario, and specifically outlined that university campuses implement a policy to handle sexual assault cases. The policy stemmed from previous controversies on university campuses such as the University of Western Ontario and Dalhousie University, which made headlines and sparked a national dialogue concerning sexual assault.

The university secretariat is the executive in charge of creating the policy, with consultations from various groups on campus such as the Presidents’ Advisory Committee on Creating an Inclusive Community, the McMaster Equity and Inclusion Office and the McMaster students’ union’s Women and Gender Equity Network.

McMaster does not currently have an official policy to deal with cases of sexual assault, but instead utilized the Discrimination, Harassment & Sexual Harassment: Prevention and Response policy to handle such cases.

Additionally, WGEN and McMaster’s Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Meaghan Ross, offer support to survivors as well as directing them to services elsewhere such as the Sexual Assault Centre (Hamilton Area).

As mandated by the Liberal government, the policy draft has been accessible to the public since Oct. 28, and a consultation was held on Nov. 8 to discuss the nuances of the draft.

The current draft includes a procedural guideline detailing the process of reporting a complaint and data gathering, the role of various levels of university administration, the investigation guidelines, and differentiations in different situations.

The policy gives students, staff and faculty the ability to file a report of sexual assault confidentially and it is the role of an assessment team to determine whether the complaint is within the jurisdiction of the policy and whether they will pursue an investigation.

If an investigation occurs, the accused will be informed to ensure procedural fairness. If it is established that a sexual assault occurred, the sanctions range from receiving a No Contact order to expulsion for students, suspension or dismissal for staff, and recommendation for suspension or removal for faculty.

The policy also allows for survivors to make rearrangements or modifications to their study or employment arrangements, such as permission to extend a program or taking a leave of absence.

The new policy differs from the harassment policy as it explicitly outlines the process to investigate sexual assault and focuses its attention on supporting survivors. For example, Section IV allows for survivors to be accompanied by a support person or legal counsel throughout any stage of the procedures.

In addition, the new policy accounts for the complexity of the university institution by specifying the course of action when the accused is in different positions of power. This is outlined Section VI, and ensures that different contexts are considered.

The final version of the policy is due in Jan. 2017, and all members of the McMaster community are asked to voice their concerns or additions. The complete draft may be found on the McMaster Daily News website.

Survivors of sexual assault may contact WGEN by visiting MUSC room 204 or by calling SACHA at (905)525-4573. 

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