Brandon U president says 'behavioural contract' for sex assault victims was a mistake

Gervan Fearon, president and vice-chancellor of Brandon university in Manitoba, speaks at a news conference on Tuesday, April 5, 2016.

The president of Brandon University says survivors of sexual assault will not be asked to sign a “behavioural contract,” following allegations that the school attempted to silence a sexual assault victim in the past.

Gervan Fearon, president and vice-chancellor of the Manitoba university, acknowledged at a news conference Tuesday afternoon that the school used a behavioural contract following an alleged sexual assault that occurred in September, 2015. He said it was a mistake in the school’s handling of the case.

“We acknowledge it was not helpful to the survivor,” Fearon told reporters, later adding, “Whether well-intentioned or not, the intention is never to limit the rights and scope for victims for survivors of sexual violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment,” to seek access to services and advocacy.

Fearon said the school “categorically” encourages all survivors of sexual violence and harassment to “please take the opportunity to report.

“Report to officials to university officials, police, report to those who can help regardless of any constraint, whether real or implied, to always ensure that you get the assistance and the help needed.”

Fearon said after the September 2015 incident, the school established a taskforce in order to “take a look at ensuring that services and support” were provided to the student involved.

Among the recommendations the taskforce put forth, Fearon said, was to “acknowledge” that a student behavioural contract is inappropriate in cases of sexual violence, assault and harassment.

“I am pleased to report that we have acted on that recommendation, and will not have any behavioural contract in such cases at this university,” Fearon said.

He also said that the contract is “rarely used,” but that “going forward, we will not be using it.”

The news conference was called after a student group called We Believe Survivors accused the school of requiring victims of sexual assault to sign a “behavioural contract” that stipulates they don’t speak publicly about their cases.

In a news release, the group demanded action from Brandon University, “following information received about the ways in which the university handles complaints of sexual violence.”

The group said, following reports of sexual violence, students are made to sign a contract stipulating that the student may not talk about the case with anyone other than a counsellor.

“Discipline following infractions of the contract include, but are not limited to, “suspension and/or expulsion from Brandon University,” the student group said, adding, “silence prevents students who have experienced sexual assault the ability to counter this narrative, and takes away their agency.”

The student group said the university must do more to ensure it “is a safe place to learn and work” for students, faculty and staff. In addition to a policy change, they are urging the university to create an education strategy and offer training in both sexual violence prevention and bystander intervention.

Fearon said at the news conference, that a committee has been established at the university to review policies “across Canada” in relation to the handling of sexual assault at universities.

The news comes just weeks after a student at the University of Victoria said the school warned her to stay quiet about the findings of an investigation into a sexual assault complaint.