Sexual violence at Bishop’s

Dear Bishop’s Community,

It has been anguishing to hear that students at Bishop’s feel unsafe on the campus and unsupported by the University.

Any form of sexual aggression on our campus and in our community is unacceptable and we must work to eradicate it. There must be zero tolerance for violence and harassment at Bishop’s.

It took a lot of courage for each survivor to share their story. We are listening and we will continue to support you.

Our legal and moral obligation is to ensure a study and work environment free from any form of violence or harassment.

Under the survivor-centred leadership of our Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Stine Linden-Andersen, and the determined engagement of students, faculty and staff, the University has implemented several measures to address sexual aggression at Bishop’s.

However, I have heard the clear message from our students that we need to do more, and as Principal I am accountable for ensuring that we do.

Statements of support and expressions of good intent matter, but the actions of our administration and of our community will be what matter most.

Each of us has the responsibility of being an active bystander equipped and ready to intervene to prevent sexual aggression, and we will support everyone who does so.

We are committed to providing support to anyone who makes a disclosure and to investigating fully every complaint of sexual violence made to us.

We will always support survivors on their path towards justice.

Survivors can contact the Dean of Student Affairs, the Sexual Aggression Response Coordinator, Dominique Pelletier or the resource they are most comfortable with. To ensure that due process will be followed, please consult the resources and pathways offered by the Office of the Dean of Student Affairs and on our website: https://www.ubishops.ca/future-current-students/student-campus-life/student-services/health-wellness/sexual-assault/. These resources will be continually updated as we respond to the needs of our community.

As promised, Me Danielle Gauthier, a senior member of the Quebec Bar, a Bishop’s graduate with law degrees from the Université de Sherbrooke (LL.L.) and Harvard University (LL.M.), has been engaged as an independent external investigator into the declarations on the bridge made by survivors. A survivor, or anyone who wishes to share information about these disclosures, may contact Me Gauthier confidentially via email at daniellegauthier@lavery.ca.

I would like to express my appreciation to the young women who came to last Friday’s Board of Governors meeting for bravely telling their stories and expressing their commitment to identify and implement the necessary changes. Stine and I will be meeting with them and members of the Sexual Culture Committee later this week.

Stine and I will hold the next Town Hall on Wednesday, November 24th in Cleghorn and on Teams at 11:30 a.m.

There is much to do, and we will continue to do everything we can to eliminate sexual violence and harassment on campus.

I am confident that if we work together with urgency, courage and respect, we will make the changes necessary to ensure that Bishop’s is a safe community for everyone.

Michael Goldbloom, C.M.
Principal and Vice-Chancellor