Break Down: Western University ‘O’Week Sexual Violence Events

On Sept. 13, 2021, the safety and security of Western University students are questioned after a first-year health science student dies after a fatal late-night assault.

London police say, approximately at 2 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, officers responded to a report of an assault near Western University at Western Road and Sarnia Road. The victim was sent to the hospital in critical condition. He later died from serious injuries.

First-year Orientation leaders expressed their disappointment and grief with the school on Instagram and Twitter.

Ali Ibrahim-Hirji, a student leader at Western University, expresses his concern on Instagram. His post would go viral through reposts online.

On Sept. 13, students at Western announced a planned walkout for Sept. 17, the upcoming Friday. Students from other schools joined in making the event a provincial-wide walkout. Intentions and updates were listed on the Instagram page @sgbvwalkoutwuo. Graduate and undergraduate students run the page.

The University of Guelph held its walkout on Thursday, Sept. 23, at 4 p.m. from Branion Plaza to Johnston Green with support from the school.

“The University supports students’ rights to participate in such events and express their views on this important topic. Gender-based and sexual violence is a societal problem that extends beyond university campuses. Combatting it requires communal, collaborative action. As a society, we need to do more and better, including increased vigilance, action and awareness.

After the walkout, @sgbvwalkoutwuo realized their end goal was much bigger than western university, so they transitioned into the Safe Campus Coalition.

“The Safe Campus Coalition (SCC) will take a trauma-informed approach to educating, supporting, and building community across Canadian post-secondary campuses to work against the perpetuation of gender-based sexual violence within educational spaces and student populations.”

On Sept. 15, Twitter user @katrinaxdj (Kat), a fourth-year Western University student, has their Twitter thread go viral as what she describes as a ‘horrific’ experience as an O-Week Orientation Leader at Western University.

She goes on to say by the end of the week, Friday at midnight, students started to ‘drop like flies’ and rumours of students being drugged happened ‘immediately.’ She explains, “We weren’t allowed in residence buildings due to covid protocol. I get that. But even as we begged higher-ups and administration to check on people and let us help make sure everyone was safe, we were denied access.”

Reports of over 30 female students being drugged and sexually assaulted, and the university’s lack of demonstrated action triggered a mass response from many Ontarians and Western alumni expressing their experiences at the university and concern for the current and future students.

A petition published on change.org by a McMaster University student Joshua Bell, asking the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to conduct a full investigation into Western University.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacts to the news responding on Twitter, “As the father of four young women, I am beyond disgusted to hear about the allegations of sexual assault that took place at Western University last week. All victims of sexual violence deserve justice. All students should feel safe on campus.”

Western University replied online, acknowledging the seriousness of the allegations and confirming they are working with police. They admittedly state, “sexual violence will never be tolerated at Western.”

Western University’s current policies on Gender-Based and Sexual Violence.

On Oct. 1, the London police released a statement:

“To date, the London Police Service has received no formal reports of a Medway-Sydenham Hall resident being drugged and sexually assaulted and therefore, we have been unable to substantiate information circulated in social media posts about widespread incidents of that nature.”

The latest official statement Western has made regarding the events was on Sept. 22, 2021. They announced, “training will be required for all 5,300 students living in Western’s 10 residences,” and ultimately be mandatory for all students, staff and faculty.

The training would focus on consent, personal safety and gender-based and sexual violence awareness and prevention.

Throughout the months of September and October, other universities released statements and made students aware of their school resources and external tools as well. The University of Guelph-Humber and Humber College students were sent an email on Sept. 28 reminding students of on-and-off campus supports including their Campus Walk program, Take back the Night program, Consent Peer Education Program.

Take Action

Joshua Bell's petition calling for the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities to conduct a full investigation into Western University.

A petition calling for the University of Toronto to begin a partnership with Uber/Lyft to prevent SA