Saint Mary's University President Dr. Colin Dodds Responds to Orientation Week Chant

By Colin Dodds
St. Mary's University
September 6, 2013

http://www.smu.ca/newsreleases/2013/september/saint-marys-university-president-dr-colin-dodds-responds-to-orientation-week-chant.html

A recent Orientation Week event involving student leaders chanting inappropriate and offensive lyrics is completely inexcusable and violates our University’s commitment to upholding the values of equality and respect.

My colleagues and I were  shocked by this incident and are deeply sorry that our students, and now the community at large, were exposed to disturbing sexually charged material. The University regrets that this was allowed to occur and we apologize unreservedly. I am taking measures to ensure it does not happen in the future.

While Orientation Week is a student-led initiative, the Senior Director of Student Services Keith Hotchkiss, and others, including an HRM Community police officer met with the Orientation Week leaders prior to the event and spoke with them specifically about the issue of sexual assault and sexual consent.

However, I accept that I and the University administration have a role to oversee and guide student leaders. We failed in that responsibility.

As immediate steps to address that issue, I have called for a special meeting with the executive and board of the Student Association, asking them to account for their actions. 

As well, the 80 student leaders involved have already been mandated to take a sensitivity seminar that will be put on by specialists and University staff before the end of the month. The SMUSA executives have also been mandated to attend a conference at STFX University on the subject of consent and sexual assault.

I am initiating a Presidential Council to review and implement the best ways forward to prevent sexual harassment and assault on our campus and ensure Saint Mary’s is always a place where our students can feel safe and respected.

The membership of the Council has not yet been finalized, but will be campus-wide, including a representative of Saint Mary’s Women's Centre.