THUNDER BAY – In response to reports of sexual violence on the campus of Thunder Bay’s Lakehead University, the head of the school’s student union said students will not be silenced in their fight for a more accountable university community.
In a release issued on Tuesday, Gender Issues Centre co-ordinator Sherrie-Lee Petrie, said the Lakehead University Student Union condemns all forms of sexual violence and called on the entire school community to raise awareness and take action to end it.
“We, the Lakehead University Student Union, encourage anyone with knowledge of these incidents to report them immediately to the director of human rights and equity,” Petrie said.
There have been at least two cases of someone allegedly attempting to take cell-phone videos of unsuspecting women in an on-campus library.
The first took place on Nov. 22 at about 6 p.m. in the Lakehead Chancellor Paterson Library. A week later the school posted an official bulleting confirming reports of a second, earlier incident.
“Another incident involving a cell phone being used to film an unaware and non-consenting student at our Paterson Library has been reported to security services. This previously unreported incident occurred in October,” the bulletin, sent from the office of LU president Brian Stevenson, reads.
“Effective immediately, there will be increase security personnel at the library. Members of the university community are asked to vigilant regarding their safety and the safety of others.”
LUSU’s release promised to stand behind and support survivors of sexual violence in whatever capacity is needed.
“We want to emphasize the importance of practices and procedures that promote safety and well-being of students, and validate the experiences of those who have experienced sexual violence on campus,” Petrie said.
“Reports of sexual violence must be focused on support and empowerment of the survivor.”
Petrie urged anyone seeking support to contact the Gender Issues Centre at 343-8879 or Dreeni Geer, director of Human Rights and Equity at 346-7765.
The full text of Stevenson's message follows:
A MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
Another incident involving a cell phone being used to film an unaware and non-consenting student at our Paterson Library has been reported to Security Services. This previously-unreported incident occurred in October.
Effective immediately, there will be increased security personnel at the Library. Members of the University community are asked to be vigilant regarding their safety and the safety of others.
The Thunder Bay Police Service (TBPS) is now investigating. The TBPS invites anyone with any information about these incidents to contact them at 684-1200, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
Anyone experiencing sexual violence is encouraged to report such incidents to Lakehead’s Security Services or Office of Human Rights and Equity. Survivors will be supported and accommodated, regardless of their decisions around reporting, through our survivor-centred approach to sexual violence.
I take the rights of survivors very seriously. I have asked our Office of Human Rights and Equity to look into how we managed the incident reported last week, as part of its mandate to work towards preventing and responding to sexual violence at Lakehead University.
Brian J.R. Stevenson
President & Vice-Chancellor
Lakehead University
Note to Readers: This story corrects an earlier version that stated both incidents took place in the library washroom. Lakehead University officials have since responded indicating that the October incident took place in the Library and not the washroom.
