- Play a leadership role in raising prevention, awareness, and education about Sexual Violence
- Endorse a formal Sexual Violence policy and its response protocol
- Allocate resources for training campus members on the policy and response protocol
- Make provisions and employment considerations/workplace accommodations for employees (staff and faculty) who are affected by Sexual Violence issues in their workplace
Roles and Responsibilities
Common Responsibilities
Model positive behaviors and attitudes by:
- Demonstrating respectful behaviors in personal relationships
- Valuing diversity
- Resolving conflicts in constructive and non-violent ways
- Challenge the myths surrounding Sexual Violence and harassment (see Appendix B);
- Be a bystander and speak up:
- Come to the defense of a Survivor if you witness Sexual Violence or harassment, and offer support
- Call a proper authority if you witness sexual assault
- Tell a proper authority if you see anyone adding something suspicious to another person’s drink
- Check in with your friends and any vulnerable individuals to see that they get home safely
- Say “no” if anyone tries to share private texts or snapchats they’ve received
- Speak out against negative attitudes and intervene when comments are made that promote
Sexual Violence and discrimination
SEE OR KNOW SOMETHING, DO SOMETHING
- Create an atmosphere where individuals feel comfortable disclosing and seeking help
- Have open discussions with peers about the issue of Sexual Violence on campus
- Respond in a sympathetic, non-judgmental and supportive way when an act of Sexual Violence is disclosed by a Survivor and/or by a person(s) accused
- Be a supportive listener when Survivors wish to discuss their experiences
- Respect Survivors’ privacy and how much information they choose to disclose
- Promote confidentiality of the Survivor and the person(s) accused, and discourage rumors
- Be aware of response protocol and how to contact resources/supports or make referrals to them
- Willingly participate in investigations
- Participate in training and public education initiatives on Sexual Violence issues
Unique Responsibilities
- Principal, Dean, Associate Deans, Vice Principals & Directors
- Vice Principal, Students & Director, Human Resources
- Faculty Members
- Academic Support Staff
- Residence Life
- Western Special Constable Service
- Western's Sexual Violence Education & Prevention Coordinator
- Western (On-Campus) Health Supports
- Business Office
- Priest Chaplain
- Staff
- Student Associations & Student Groups
- Students
Principal, Dean, Associate Deans, Vice Principals & Directors
Vice Principal, Students & Director, Human Resources
- Responsible for convening an investigation committee
- Responsible for conducting an investigation
- Overseeing the effectiveness of the policy & protocol
- Proposing changes to respond to and ensure effectiveness
- Vice Principal, Students: oversight for the operation of the Code of Student Conduct
- Director, Human Resources: oversight for the operation of the Workplace Violence Policy & Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Faculty Members
- Provide Survivors with appropriate academic considerations, such as extensions on assignments, re-weighting assignments or tests, or supporting a request to drop a class or continue studies from home
- Make students aware of opportunities to attend campus initiatives relating to Sexual Violence
- Participate in training on the policy and response protocol
- Participate in ongoing campus prevention, education, and awareness initiatives about Sexual Violence issues
- Information regarding disclosures and/or reports/complaints should be shared in-person with Academic Dean or Director, Human Resources, respecting privacy of the Survivor and person(s) accused
- Follow the Workplace Violence Policy & Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Academic Support Staff
- Assist with academic accommodations, petitions (e.g., requests for waiving an academic regulation, degree requirement or academic deadline with a student who has experienced a hardship or disadvantage), dropping courses, adjusting course schedules where appropriate and other academic needs of the Survivor
- Make students aware of opportunities to attend campus initiatives relating to Sexual Violence
- Participate in training on the policy and response protocol
- Participate in ongoing campus prevention, education, and awareness initiatives about Sexual Violence issues
- Information regarding disclosures and/or reports/complaints should be shared in-person with Manager; or Vice Principal, Students; or Director, Human Resources, respecting privacy of the Survivor and person(s) accused
- Follow the Workplace Violence Policy & Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Residence Life
- Organize a change in living arrangements, when necessary
- Encourage students living in residence to organize and participate in Sexual Violence awareness activities
- Be aware of any changes in behaviour by individual students
- Participate in training on the policy and response protocol
- Participate in ongoing campus prevention, education, and awareness initiatives about Sexual Violence issues
- Information regarding disclosures and/or reports/complaints should be shared in-person with Manager; or Vice Principal, Students; or Director, Human Resources, respecting privacy of the Survivor and person(s) accused
- Follow the Workplace Violence Policy & Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Western Special Constable Service
- Issue a campus safety alert when it is determined that the campus may be at risk
- Offer the individual the opportunity to be interviewed by police of the same gender, if the individual chooses
- Assists with investigations
- Collaborates with London Police
- Follow best practices in creating campuses that are physically safe; implements measures to reduce sexual violence on campus
- Assess the physical safety of campus through regular safety audits
- Engage the campus community in periodic reviews of safety procedures, where appropriate
Western's Sexual Violence Education & Prevention Coordinator
- Helps Survivor navigate their options
- Source of referral to Campus Police or London Police for reporting; or referral to on-campus health and/or off-campus community supports
Western (On-Campus) Health Supports
- Psychological and emotional support
- Assistance with safety planning
- Referrals to other services, including medical services
- Physicians, licensed medical professionals (e.g., nurses, counsellors, psychologists), who are practicing in that capacity, are a confidential resource. They will not report an incident of sexual violence without a Survivor’s permission, except for extreme circumstances, such as a health and/or safety emergency
Business Office
- Provides access to emergency financial assistance for students in need
- Participate in training on the policy and response protocol
- Participate in ongoing campus prevention, education, and awareness initiatives about Sexual Violence issues
- Information regarding disclosures and/or reports/complaints should be shared in-person with Manager; or Vice Principal, Students; or Director, Human Resources, respecting privacy of Survivor and person(s) accused
- Follow the Workplace Violence Policy & Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Priest Chaplain
- Provides social, emotional and spiritual support, available for all students, staff and faculty
- Serves as a confidential resource who will not report an incident of sexual violence without a Survivor’s permission, except for extreme circumstances, such as a health and/or safety emergency
Staff
- Make students aware of opportunities to attend campus initiatives relating to sexual violence
- Participate in training on the policy and response protocol
- Participate in ongoing campus prevention, education, and awareness campus initiatives about sexual violence
- Information regarding disclosures and/or reports/complaints should be shared in-person with Manager; or Vice Principal, Students; or Director, Human Resources, respecting privacy of Survivor and person(s) accused
- Follow the Workplace Violence Policy & Harassment and Discrimination Policy
Student Associations & Student Groups
- Engage in educational initiatives to promote better understanding of sexual violence and the institution’s policies and protocols
- Provide feedback on institutional policies, resources, and protocols
- Participate in training on the policy and response protocol
- Participate in ongoing campus prevention, education, and awareness initiatives about Sexual Violence issues
Students
- Participate in ongoing campus sexual violence prevention, education, and awareness initiatives
- Participate in training on the policy and response protocol
- Follow the Code of Student Conduct
- Provide feedback on institutional policies, resources, and protocols