UNB dragging heels on sexual assault policy, says group

The Reproductive Justice New Brunswick community group saysthe University of New Brunswick isdragging its heels when it comes to implementing a sexual assault policy.

TracyGlynn, an organizer withReproductive Justice New Brunswick,says, in an opinion piece published in the university's student newspaper, The Brunswickan,there are those at the institution whodon't want sexual violence openlydiscussed.

There is not enough being done, and those at theuniversityneed to realize that.- Tracy Glynn, Reproductive Justice New Brunswick

"We know there are several people in the university community that are not supporting talk about sexual violence on campus," said Glynn. "That's really not acceptable."

In thepast, theReproductive Justice group has been vocal in the province aboutreproductive policies in New Brunswick and sexual assault.

"There is not enough being done," said Glynn.

"And those at theuniversityneed to realize that."

A CBC News investigation earlier this year revealed that severalMaritime universities, including UNB, had initially under-reported the number of reports of sexual assaults received at the schools, between 2009 and 2013, when asked for the number by CBC News.

• CBC News investigation: sexual assaultreports

Initially, UNB said it had one report of sexual assault during thattime period.Thatnumberincreased to 11after CBC filedright-to-information requests for the data..

Policy delayeduntilnext year

Rice Fuller,UNB's director of health and student wellness, saidinJanuarythat a policy would be in place by thisfall.

Fuller has since called hisoriginalprojection for the policies completion "optimistic,"in an email to CBC.

The university now says apolicy on sexual assault is expected for spring2016.

The University respondedtoGlynn'sletter with aprepared statementwritten by Fuller.

"We are currently in the process of developing UNB's stand-alone sexual assault policy," wrote Fuller.

"A stand-alone sexual assault policy is only one part of a thorough response to the problem of sexual assaults on university campuses."

Fuller wrote that theuniversity has been working in several areas to prevent sexual violence and educate its student population.

"To judge UNB's current efforts solely based upon whether we have a stand-alone sexual assault policy is misguided, and an over-simplification of a complex issue."

UNB has trained 600 students on bystander awareness, a program designed to teach students to recognize and prevent violent sexual behavior before an incident occurs.

Glynn says Reproductive Justicedecided, as a whole, to submitthe letter after hearing that a presentationat the schoolon the importance of consent was poorly attended.

Glynn added that she would like to see courses on consent and sexual violence education made mandatory.