A Nova Scotia student trying to raise awareness about sexual assault-related issues is hoping university students across Canada will don teal ribbons on Thursday.
Shelby Miller, a psychology student at Mount Saint Vincent University in Halifax, says she was inspired to take action after learning how St. Francis Xavier University mishandled a reported case of sexual assault.
READ MORE: Students protest Nova Scotia university’s handling of alleged sexual assault case
Get daily National news
Although the university in Antigonish, N.S., swiftly launched an investigation and found the accused responsible, the administration set aside its decision to suspend him for the next academic year – without notifying the complainant.
Court documents show the man – who has since withdrawn from the university – was charged with sexual assault last spring, and a preliminary inquiry is set for Nov. 29.
The complainant in that case, a young woman from the Toronto area, has since abandoned her studies at St. F.X.
READ MORE: Ontario student leaves Nova Scotia university after alleged rapist returns to campus
Miller, a 21-year-old student from Stewiacke, N.S., says she set up a Facebook page last week to promote the teal ribbon event, and since then almost 2,000 students from schools in Ontario, Quebec, P.E.I., Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador have pledged to support the campaign.
Addy Strickland, a St. F.X. student who has organized campus protests to draw attention to what happened, says the growing show of support has been overwhelming.
- Jasper National Park under wildfire threat. How far is it from safe zones?
- ‘A big green light to cut’: What to expect from the Bank of Canada this week
- Plant-based milk recall: Class-action lawsuits filed over Listeria outbreak
- Nova Scotia premier says he skipped Halifax Pride parade because of safety concerns
Comments