Note: The following article concerns topics of rape and sexual violence.
Sexual violence impacts many young women in Alberta post-secondary institutions. However, the most published news on sexual violence focuses on particular cases. For this reason, few publications highlight campus sexual violence. So, what does campus sexual violence mean?
Campus sexual violence readily manifests due to amount of young adults concentrated at college or university. In this way, many students may be arriving in Alberta from abroad or from another province. Further, most on-campus sexual assaults occur during the first eight weeks of classes. As a result, campus sexual violence is prevalent, and more than 80 percent of rapes on college and university campuses are committed by someone known to the victim.
As a result, post-secondary institutions profoundly impact students’ personal and professional growth. With this in mind, it’s essential to consider the role of the educational institution in facilitating the disclosure and reporting of sexual violence.
Why is Campus Sexual Violence Important?
Campus sexual violence differs from intimate partner violence, gender violence, and sexual violence. Importantly, campus sexual violence predominantly consists of “rape culture.” The imposition of culture refers to the widespread acceptance of violence against women and sexual minorities. This means an act of sexual violence is not an isolated case – instead, they are systemic attitudes and behaviours that normalize sexual violence.
As a result, women and sexual minorities who have experienced sexual violence on or stemming from campus interactions fear speaking out. This is not an irrational fear. Rape culture not only emerges from students’ attitudes and behaviours but additionally, rape culture transcends into the college and university administration. As a result, women and sexual minorities are increasingly alienated from academic support and services. Importantly, campus sexual violence disclosure and reporting to an educational institution provoke:
- Fear of not being believed
- Fear of being blamed for the incident (e.g. alcohol consumption at the time of the incident)
- Fear of secondary victimization when reporting
- Minimization of the incident
- A feeling of embarrassment or shame
- Fear of retaliation
- Feeling a degree of responsibility for what occurred
- Uncertainty on whether harm was intended or whether authorities would see it as serious enough
Victim Blaming
Ultimately, the fear of victimization when reporting concerns school administrators and students alike. For instance, the 2016 University of Alberta’s Student Conduct and Accountability
Statistical Report indicated that in between the 2015 and 2016 academic year, there were approximately 41-45 alleged victims of gender-based violence, including sexual harassment and sexual assault.
The University of Alberta’s North Campus alone enrolls 35,000 students, meaning a figure of 41-45 survivors of campus sexual violence is dramatically underreported. The underreporting of campus sexual violence also reflects the lack of meaningful support once survivors decide to share their experiences. There is little incentive for women and sexual minorities to share their experiences because there is a greater possibility they will be re-victimized instead of supported and heard.
How does the University of Alberta respond to sexual violence?
The University of Alberta offers three avenues of response to campus sexual violence:
- An anonymous disclosure – may result in support but no modifications/interim measures or investigation process.
- Disclosure – results in support services, applicable modifications and interim measures for safety, but no disciplinary investigation.
- Complaint – results in support services, applicable modifications and interim measures for safety. Complaints with tangible links to campus often include a disciplinary investigation, which may lead to sanctions.
Notably, two options absolve the university of responsibility by avoiding an investigative process. Although such possibilities are necessary for survivors to disclose their experiences without fear of further investigation, the lack of response following a disclosure does nothing to support or address campus sexual violence.
In the fall of last year, the University of Alberta’s Student Union called for increased accessibility to services and support for sexual violence survivors. Nevertheless, the university has taken no action to address campus sexual violence.
Edmonton’s WAVE of Advocacy
The Women’s Advocacy Voice of Edmonton Committee (WAVE) is a council of fifteen women from diverse backgrounds to support the City Council in policy-making. The group empowers young women to speak out about their experiences in and around Edmonton. In this sense, women’s advocacy groups are interconnected with municipal governance and help to establish support for survivors of sexual violence. Supports such as the Sexual Assault Center of Edmonton function as trauma-informed services to support survivors of sexual violence.
However, these supports function within the community and are separate from university and college support services. With this in mind, students and faculty cannot stand by as rape culture and sexual violence continues to harm women and sexual minorities. There is power in collective action in response to systemic harms against women.
On April 4th at 10 AM, students at secondary and post-secondary campuses walking out to protest rape culture within educational institutions. Specifically, the national movement demands:
- Safe learning and living environments for all students
- Responsive and Accountable Administrations
- Mandatory Consent Education from Kindergarten to Postsecondary
- Collect and publicize data on sexual assaults in schools across Canada
More than just a protest, the movement illustrates the collective distrust for administrative support to protect survivors of sexual violence. As a result, more pressure will be placed on educational institutions and governments to address campus sexual violence authentically through community action.
If you are interested in organizing your event, please see:
Email: walkout4consent@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walkout4c/
If you need support, please see:
SACE 9 AM – 9 PM Sexual Violence Support Line – Call or Text 1-866-403-8000
Association of Alberta Sexual Assault Services – Alberta services
University of Alberta Sexual Assault Center – Call 780-492-9771
Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centers – Alberta services
