CALLS TO ACTION

To maintain Western’s commitment to this work, we support:

1. The implementation of trauma-informed and survivor-centric approaches to gender-based and sexual violence education and support strategies thus far;

2. The mandatory first-year residence training program and additional student leader training program which has been created and facilitated by leading community partners (i.e., ANOVA and CREVAWC).
   
   

However, we seek clarity and further transparency from Western regarding: 

1. The content and rollout of training for upper-year undergraduate students;

2. The delayed expansion and rollout of training for staff, faculty, and graduate students who, as dedicated members of this community, deserve more than simply disclosure handling training, delivered virtually and asynchronously;

3. Commitments to permanent programming and implementation plans to incorporate such modules into degree requirements;

4. The fulfillment of Western’s commitment to expand the gender-based and sexual violence team by hiring additional case managers and the addition of prevention and education support;

5. The commitment to ‘provide support to members of [fraternities and sororities]’ as they address the deeply-entrenched issues of gender-based and sexual violence within the Greek system; what will this support look like and what repercussions will students face in these ‘autonomous student organizations’ should they continue to facilitate a culture of misogyny and sexual violence?;

6. The customized GBSV training for special constables and other security personnel – namely, what is the timeline and who is creating it?;

7. The success rate of GBSV training provided during Community Connections during summer 2022, as well as the repercussions should an incoming student not complete their assigned GBSV module. Further, it is unclear whether incoming students will receive the in-person training created last year.

Throughout the 2022-2023 year, we urge Western to: 

1. Prioritize the environmental design changes recommended by Western’s Action Committee on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence to create a safer campus environment; 

2. Expand the volunteer capacity of the Foot Patrol program and partner with the USC for additional opportunities for late-night shuttles and taxi discounts;

3. Address the culture in Western-affiliated Greek Life by mandating training for students who elect to participate in sororities and fraternities;

4. Consult other U15 institutions and invest in similar evidence-based harm reduction and overdose prevention programming inclusive of safe sex education, STI clinic access, and substance use supports (ex: Queens’ campus observation room); 

5. Strike a standing university body to annually monitor and review programming and initiatives, which must be composed of community members including student leaders, staff, faculty, and university administration;  

6. Engage the student community in the hiring and strategic planning work for the Provost’s new GBSV Consultant.