U of R announces sexual assault-and-violence policy

News Release Release Date: October 26, 2015 11:30 a.m.

The University of Regina has developed a sexual assault-and-violence policy to prevent and respond to any sexual assault within the University community. The policy was announced as part of the kick-off of the University’s Man Up Against Violence Fall 2015 program and the start of the Province’s Violence Prevention Week.

“The University’s new policy recognizes that all members of the University of Regina community have the right to work, teach and study in an environment that is free from any form of sexual assault-and-violence,” says Dr. Dena McMartin, Associate Vice-President (Academic and Research) and the University’s lead in developing policy.

“The Man Up Against Violence movement promotes positive ideals of masculinity, and encourages men to accept their role as advocates to prevent violence in our communities,” says Roz Kelsey, Chair of the Man Up Against Violence movement and instructor with the Faculty of Kinesiology and Health Studies.

The new policy formalizes the University’s commitment to addressing sexual assault-and-violence through prevention activities focused on education and communication, supports the reporting of sexual assault and violence, addresses the needs of victims and establishes procedures for investigation and adjudication of sexual assault-and-violence.

“Prior to having this policy, incidents of sexual assault were dealt with through the University’s Non-Academic Misconduct and Respectful University policies,” says McMartin. “However, the University recognized that these policies did not go far enough to try to prevent and respond to sexual assault-and-violence and therefore initiated the development of this policy.”

A website supporting the new policy is available at: http://www.uregina.ca/ursafe/.

Information on the Man Up Against Violence movement and activities planned during the week is available at:  http://manupagainstviolence.ca/new/.