KPU’s Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy Shaped at Consultations

What the meetings lack in numbers, they make up in productivity

A Sexual Violence and Misconduct Policy meeting was held on Kwantlen Polytechnic University’s Surrey campus on the first day of November, with three out of the seven attendees students. Representatives of the university also convened in Main 214 for the consultation, including Consultations Facilitator Candy Ho, Director of Business Performance and Advisory Services Joe Sass, Counseling Faculty Renu Seru, and a professional note taker.

The meeting was one in a series of consultations with KPU students and faculty that aims to develop a well-rounded and effective sexual violence and misconduct policy. The university does not currently have such a policy in operation—though it does have a zero-tolerance policy on sexual assault—and the consultations are one means of including as many opinions as possible in the conversation around what it should look like.

At the the meeting a list of questions were distributed around the room for everyone to read over and discuss as a focus group. The first asked what the important elements of “a campus-wide prevention and education strategy on sexual violence and misconduct” would be. The second asked what KPU can do to create a safe environment for the reporting of sexual violence and misconduct, and the third asked which points “should be addressed in a stand-alone campus-wide sexual violence and misconduct policy.”

Some of the recommendations made by students included providing proper training to KPU security guards for responding to reports of sexual violence, as well as hiring more female security guards on campus. Making relevant resources available via the web, a women’s centre, posters, and instructor presentations were also suggested, whether they would offer access to health professionals, peer support, bystander training programs, term definitions, anti-stigma exercises, tracking of sexual violence at KPU, or personal health tips. The format of those resources could be packaged on a flow chart, web page, or business card-style list, to name a few examples.

This year, there has been a movement towards polishing and enforcing sexual violence and misconduct policies in North America. Several advocacy groups have been pressuring schools to come out with proper policies, and it has received mass coverage in the media.

Yet there was so little student registration at the first session to be scheduled, located on the Richmond campus, that it was cancelled. With only three students at the Surrey campus consultation, one has to wonder why.

KPU itself has had two cases of on-campus harassment reported this year, and many larger institutions have seen similar sexual violence on campus. The policy will surely protect the students, so why aren’t they eager to contribute to the process?

It may be another case of KPU apathy, a lack of communication between the students and higher-ups, or bad timing, since it is midterm season. The high amount of online engagement points to either the first or last option. However, as Ho points out, the President’s Advisory Committee has gotten around 30 online submissions for comments, questions, and concerns.

In any case, quantity does not always promise quality, and the comments and conclusions made on Nov. 1 were inarguably “invaluable”, as said by Ho.

She urges all KPU students to “please continue the conversation” and take part in the consultations. Until the policy is official, anyone looking for help regarding sexual violence on campus can contact the university’s counseling department or security staff.