The University of Regina is pouring $82,500 into a new research study its calling pro-active.
The study will consist of an initial survey on sexual assault. It will be completed by on and off-campus students, faculty, and staff including affiliated colleges. After the initial survey is complete, focus groups and task forces.
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The research aims to understand, and in turn, erase the culture of gender-based violence.
The University of Regina says three sexual assault cases have been reported to campus officials since the beginning of the 2016 calendar year.
“We know that sexual assaults are under-reported, so were hoping that we’ll get at least a better indication of the experience of our students, faculty, and staff,” U of R President Vianne Timmons said.
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Roz Kelsey, a kinesiology and health sciences professor at the university, said she brought the idea to the president’s office hoping it will increase the number of reported cases.
“Ironically, numbers going up gives us a really good indication that people are willing to talk about stuff that’s really pushed underground often,” Kelsey said.
The confidential survey will begin circulating on-line September 19th ,and preliminary results are expected to be released late October. The research will then continue for about a year.
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“We want to look at everything that’s going on in campus, so when it comes to behavior attitudes, activates that are currently happening, things like reporting. We want to look at even, what do people know about sexual assault violence and how do they process that kind of information,” Kelsey added.
The research will be completed in conjunction with Parker P, the consulting arm of White Ribbon Canada (WRC), a non-profit committed to preventing gender-based violence.
Executive Director Todd Minerson said WRC began after the Montreal Massacre where 14 women were killed during a mass school shooting in 1989. He said the University of Regina is being very proactive.
“It’s trying to get out in front of the issue and develop a unique comprehensive solution,” Minnerson said.
According to the Canadian Federation of Students, on-campus assaults are more likely to happen within the first eight weeks of the school year.
Students asked by Global News said they felt safe on campus at the University of Regina and have not heard of any reported assaults.
When asked why this initiative is starting now, Timmons stated that there is no better time than the present.
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