Harassment reporting website launched by UBC graduate student society

Graduate students who have faced harassment anddiscrimination at the University of British Columbia can now telltheir stories confidentially to the society that represents them.

The university's graduate student society has launched a websitecalled "My Grad Story" that encourages students to share theirexperiences through an online form, a private appointment or bysharing publicly on social media.

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UBC has come under fire after several current and former graduatestudents complained that it took a year and a half for schooladministrators to act on multiple sexual assault allegations againsta PhD student.

Society president Tobias Friedel says the website's launch iscoincidental to the students' complaints, but he is saddened bytheir traumatic experiences and inspired by their courage.

The society says the website will help it gather criticalinformation about discrimination and harassment at UBC, and it'scalling for a multi-faceted response, including procedural changesand better training for students and faculty.

UBC's interim president Martha Piper has said the university doesnot tolerate sexual violence and has vowed to begin a discussion ona new policy for responding to sexual assault complaints.