Bridging the Policy Gaps and Legal and Educational Dilemmas to Address Sexual Violence in University Contexts

• In Event: 77.032 - Rape Culture in Public Education and Online: Exploring Current Realities and Solutions

Abstract

This presentation will discuss the emerging policy challenges related to defining “university contexts” in an age of social media. With reference to established and emerging Canadian and American case law, the author will highlight the extent to which university administrations are responsible to prevent, reduce and address online forms of sexual harassment, non-consensual distribution of intimate images, sexist and misogynist jokes, slurs and online threats, when there is a nexus to members of the institution.

The author will then discuss the goal and objectives of a 7-year Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) Partnership Grant that brings together 12 universities, 24 academics, 15 community partners, and 13 collaborators to engage students and multi-sector partners in evidence-based research to inform policies, processes and curriculum programs on sexual violence in universities (see www.mcgill.ca/definetheline/IMPACTS).

Within the broader backdrop of the #metoo and #rapedbutneverreported campaigns to call out alleged perpetrators, the author will also examine the differences between public online disclosure involving university professors; reporting through official channels and the rapid dismissal of many Hollywood and news media celebrities. The author will explain how and why as bureaucratic multi-policy institutions, universities cannot act as quickly as private industry to dismiss alleged perpetrators, and that in every case there needs to be procedural fairness, due process and clear remedies. She calls for a balancing of the pendulum between victim-blaming survivors at one extreme, and subjecting alleged perpetrators to the “courts of public opinion” at the other. The author will also discuss the unique three-pronged approach towards balanced, equitable and sustainable policies and programs that her project has initiated, and highlight briefly, some of the key issues related to the dilemmas of navigating sexual violence in university contexts.

Author

• Shaheen Shariff, McGill University