Students, union want SFU to respond to sex assault allegations

Students and some unionizedstaffat Simon Fraser University are calling on senior administratorsto address sexual assaultallegations againsta male student, including chargesthat the alleged attacks prompted two young women to drop out.

University officials have confirmedthat police areinvestigating three allegations of sexual assault made by three female students against a male student.

But apart from acknowledging thatpolice are involved in a sex assault probe, the university has not commented on the issue,citing privacy and the ongoing investigation.

• Male student investigated for 3 alleged sex assaults at SFU

The tight-lippedresponse has angered some students andstaff.

Nathan Ross, who is web newseditor of the student paper, The Peak, said students want more details. Ross said students also want to know why SFU officials didn't warn students about the alleged attacker.

"There is anger," Ross said. "People are upset and they want answers.There is a concern that the administration is not doing enough now."

Ross said many students also want to know why thesuspect wasn'tremoved from theBurnabycampus residence where he resided last term.

Marjorie Griffin Cohen, a SFUprofessor emeritus, said she doesn't think enough was done to protect the students who made the complaints.

Griffin Cohen,professor emeritus of politicalscience and gender, sexuality and women's studies,said she knew one of the female complainants

Student not removed, says prof

Griffin Cohen said the youngwoman reported her alleged assault to campus security and police,but the university did not remove the male student from campus atthat time.

"Everywhere she went, she was seeing him, which was quiteterrifying to her," said GriffinCohen,a professor emeritus of politicalscience and gender, sexuality and women's studies,

Eventually, that woman and another female complainant left school, she said.

Ross said SFUstudents understand privacy rights and the need for due process, butthey'reconcerned about safety.

"There is anger," Ross said. "People are upset and they want answers.There is a concern that the administration is not doing enough now."

JonDriver, vice-president of academic and provost, said the malestudent who is the subject of the allegations is not on campus, buthe did not say if he was suspended or expelled.

Under new legislation, universities across B.C. have until May of 2017 to come up with a strategic plan to deal with sexual assault.

Ross said the lack of response from senior administrators suggeststhey aremore interested in protecting the university's reputation than ensuring the safety of students.

The Burnaby, B.C.university, which also has campuses in Vancouver and Surrey, is the latest to grapple with alleged sexual assaults involving students, after the University of B.C. and University of Victoria faced accusations they had mishandled reports of attacks.

Ross noted that other universities have policiesto deal with students accused of violence.

Union 'deeply concerned'

For example, the University of Alberta can evicta student who is involved in "threatening, disruptive or violent conduct."

Deborah Eerkes, the U of A's director of student conduct and accountability, said the policy has been in place for more than a decade. She saiduniversitiesmustbalance the rights of an alleged suspectwith the safety of students.

"That question of how can you punish before (a suspect is tried), it has to be commensurate with the riskthat exists."

Meanwhile the union representing teaching support staff at the university said it is "deeply concerned," with SFU'sresponse to the assault allegations.

"Our members and the students they teach have a right to work and learn in an environment free from violence and harassment," said a statement from the Teaching Support Staff Union.

University president Andrew Petter did not respond to interview requests. Kurt Heinrich, aspokesman for the university, said in an emailed statement that"the university doesn'thave anything further to add on the topic," citing Driver's Tuesdaystatement.

With filesfrom The Canadian Press