Sexual assault victims at Humber to receive more assistance under new policy

Sep 19, 2017 | News

By Sanzana Syed

Humber College has a new procedure for students to report sexual assault. The college has appointed two student intervention coordinators, Navisha Singh and Rebeca Mahadeo, whose job is to provide victims of sexual assault with information, referrals and appropriate resources on or off campus. “I feel proud of what we’re doing,” said Mahadeo. She said that Humber is working to keep the campus a workable and safe environment for students. A new development, according to Singh, is that services are also available to students accused of sexual assault. For example. she said the office could assist someone with housing options if they were forced to leave residence because of an incident.

“It’s a crime, a violence, and has no place on our campus.”

Since the province introduced Bill 132, an action plan act for sexual violence and harassment in March 2016, Humber College has actively been a part of the province’s plan to not tolerate sexual assault, harassment and domestic violence.

Meg Houghton, the director for Student Access, Wellness and Development at Humber said, “It’s a crime, a violence, and has no place on our campus.” Houghton said that the provincial government is taking sexual assault more seriously and it has impacted campus positively. She said the college is doing a lot for awareness and prevention, such as the Can I Kiss You presentation for all first year and residence students and a bystander training workshop on how to safely intervene

The Consent is Sexy Crew brings awareness to consent throughout the school year at Humber and Guelph-Humber University. Every event they host hopes to challenge and reduce the stigma surrounding consent and sexual violence while promoting conversation on campus.

You can find them on campus tomorrow at the LRC building from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also show your support by using the #WeDontStandBy and pledging to help end sexual violence on campus here.