Queen’s students impacted by sexual violence or misconduct should find it less confusing to file a complaint with the University’s updated sexual violence policy.
The Board of Trustees approved updates to the University’s Policy on Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Violence, highlighting for intimate partner violence and simplifying the language in the policy. The changes were approved on Dec. 8 and went into effect on Jan. 2.
Queen’s merged its Sexual Violence Policy and Sexual Misconduct Policy into one comprehensive document, explained Barbara Lotan, sexual violence prevention and response (SVPR) coordinator. Updates to the policy aim to help Lotan easily explain to students the process behind filing a complaint.
READ MORE: Sexual Violence response service sees request surge 52 per cent
“It’s more streamlined, more straightforward, and I think everyone benefits from that,” Lotan said in an interview with The Journal.
Students can appeal decisions of sexual violence investigations, where the Vice-Provost and Dean of Student Affairs will dismiss or allow the appeal to move forward. This policy change is being implemented after it was suggested by external consultants in their review of the University’s sexual violence policy in February 2023.
READ MORE: External completes review of Queen’s sexual violence policy.
The policy clarifies the SVPR office provides to students who have experienced sexual and non-sexual intimate partner violence, another recommendation made by the external .
The policy saw changes which were made to respondents facing allegations of sexual violence. The Office of the University Ombudsperson, whose purpose is to help students understand policy and procedures within the University, now provides to students navigating allegations.
Aligning with provincial law, the University now explicitly prohibits sexual or romantic relationships between any Queen’s employees and students whom they supervise, including student staff such as residence dons. Employees engaging in prohibited relationships risk termination.
READ MORE: Undergrad relationships with Queen’s employees prohibited.
Queen’s removed adjudicated hearings—a review of the investigation report prior to issuing sanctions against the accused—from the investigation process for efficiency.
“Queens was doing a really good job of investigations and so it didn’t cause any harm by eliminating [adjuratory hearings],” Lotan said.
Tags
All final editorial decisions are made by the Editor(s) in Chief and/or the Managing Editor. Authors should not be ed, targeted, or harassed under any circumstances. If you have any grievances with this article, please direct your comments to [email protected].