A review of U of T’s sexual violence and harassment policy
UTM’s men’s and women’s soccer teams will look to turn things around heading into playoffs.
With the University of Toronto’s (U of T) sexual violence and harassment policy review approaching, reflecting on the university’s recent history with sexual violence is a difficult but essential task.
As a first-year student in the Communication, Culture, Information and Technology (CCIT) program, I was surprised to learn about a case of sexual harassment that occurred at the Communication, Culture, and Technology (CCT) Building in August 2024.
The incident, which occurred on August 4, 2024, involved a 31-year-old man who was arrested for assaulting a woman and forcing her into a room on the second floor of the CCT building. The man was not part of the U of T community yet was roaming on U of T Mississauga (UTM) property and was later arrested and criminally charged.
While this incident sparked widespread concern on campus, there have been more severe cases of sexual harassment and assault, some involving instructors and students, that took place before U of T’s last update to its sexual violence and harassment policy.
In 2022, a UTM biology professor was reported to have breached policy with racial microaggressions and sexual harassment towards students. Students protested for his termination, however they were met with inaction from the university. The professor continues to teach at UTM and some of his students, who were victims of his harassment, dropped out of academia due lack of support and protection from the university.
The latest version of the policy, approved on December 15, 2022, has seemed to consider this incident through its statement of commitment. According to the document, the eleventh statement reads, “The University recognizes that power dynamics are inherent in institutions of higher learning and is committed to appropriately account for these dynamics in the processes set out in this Policy.”
The inclusion of this commitment in the latest policy suggests that U of T is taking steps toward recognizing and addressing the power dynamics that contribute to sexual violence and harassment. While past incidents highlight the need for stronger enforcement, its 2022 updated policy presents an opportunity for the university to build a safer and more supportive environment for students.
Another thing to note is that the policy considers those who may benefit from definitions of certain terms in its document, such as consent and complainant, and dedicates a section to defining related terms for those who may be unaware. I believe this shows how the university is considering the importance of clarity and accessibility in addressing sexual violence and harassment.
However, with this recent case, the concern lies mainly in how U of T will ensure the safety of students and staff continuing their studies and instruction during the summer, and work to prevent any incidents of sexual harassment during that time.
On the other hand, the policy currently does not accommodate non-members of the U of T community. As outlined in their reporting process section, “The University does not have the jurisdiction to address allegations made against a person who is not a Member of the University Community.” This limitation raises concerns about how U of T will support students who experience sexual violence involving non-community members, highlighting a gap in protection that the university must address.
Since the policy acknowledges “that Sexual Violence can occur between individuals regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, or relationship status” in their statement of commitment, then it should account for incidents that occur regardless of whether a person is a member of the U of T community. If the incident is occurring on U of T property, then the university should have the jurisdiction to address allegations such as the incident that occurred in August last year.
As a student, I recognize that while my perspective is just one among many, U of T must listen to a diverse range of voices when shaping policies on sexual violence and harassment. Before finalizing any updates, the university should actively seek input from students across all campuses to ensure that survivors, as well as those supporting them, have access to appropriate resources and protections.
Though past efforts, such as the 2018 Student Voices on Sexual Violence Survey, provided insight, no similar student survey has been conducted since. To create a truly safe and supportive environment, U of T must acknowledge past shortcomings and recent incidents while incorporating student experiences into meaningful policy improvements, whether from survivors themselves or from students striving to foster an inclusive and accountable academic community.
