Promoting a culture of safety, respect and consent at Saint Mary's University and beyond

To the extent that the rape chant was a kind of crisis for Saint Mary’s University and cast a shadow over the institution, it has also created an opportunity for Saint Mary’s University to become a leader in responding to this problem and set an example of how to address the significant problem of sexualized violence on campus. [...] As I learned in my experiences as Chair of the Nova Scotia Task Force on Bullying and Cyberbullying, there appears to be a deterioration of the sense of community in the modern age of technology and a loss of respect for some of the traditional core values. [...] Our recommendations are as follows: A. Build a Foundation for Cultural Change Immediate Actions (completed by the end of January, 2014) 1. Communicate a Commitment to Action – the University President and the Chair of the Board of Governors should jointly issue a statement that SMU is committed to the prevention of sexualized violence and the promotion of a safe, inclusive and respectful learning [...] The University should also develop a clear statement of roles and responsibilities for all members of the university community regarding the prevention of and response to sexualized violence. [...] Continue to Engage the University and Broader Community - the prevention of sexualized violence and the promotion of a safe, inclusive and respectful environment is a shared responsibility within the SMU community and within the broader community.