U of T’s new sexual violence policy was approved by the Governing Council in December. A key highlight of the policy is the establishment of a Sexual Violence Prevention and Support Centre by this January at all three campuses.
According to an article by UTM News, “Governing Council approves policy on sexual violence and sexual harassment,” the centre will provide support for potential sexual harassment victims, will manage the process of handling sexual violence complaints, and will offer training and education.
One of the main aims of the centre is to streamline a support system for faculty, students, and staff. Currently, UTM has an array of reporting options available to the community, wherein reports may be submitted to the campus police or the Health and Wellbeing Centre.
With the arrival of the centre, all reporting of incidents, whether on or off campus, will now be handled directly by the centre.
The university has also hired Angel Treglia as the new director of the centre. Treglia has previously worked at Western University as the sexual violence prevention education coordinator, and will assume her new role at UTM this January.
As of December 22, as reported in an article by Mississauga News, “U of T’s Mississauga campus getting a sexual violence, harassment, support centre,” a physical location for the centre at UTM has not yet been determined.
The Medium reached out on Wednesday to the executive director, personal safety, high risk and sexual violence prevention and support, Terry McQuaid for comment, but did not receive a response, as of press time.
The creation of the centre is born out of the university’s implementation of a sexual violence policy, as mandated with Bill 132, the Sexual Violence and Harassment Action Plan, which requires that all post-secondary institutions develop a sexual violence policy by January 2017.
