A series of four open meetings for feedback on sexual assault support and response at Queen’s concluded this week.

The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Working Group (SAPRWG) hosted the meetings in late February and early March. The feedback provided in the meetings will aid in the development of SAPRWRG’s policy recommendations, which are expected by April 30, 2015.

Meetings were moderated by Dr. Leslie Flynn, Associate Professor and Vice-Dean of Education in the Faculty of Health Sciences, and focused on support and response, prevention education, environmental factors, and policy.

“We were pleased with the turnout to the meetings and received some valuable feedback,” says Arig al Shaibah, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs (Student Life and Learning) and Chair of the SAPRWG. “We noted everything that was said during the meetings and will take it into careful consideration as we continue drafting our final recommendations and the permanent sexual assault policy.”

The consultation process will continue with confidential meetings and focus group discussions in March to obtain feedback from key campus and community informants and constituents, such as residence dons, AMS Peer Support Centre volunteers, Sexual Assault Centre Kingston, and Department of Gender Studies faculty members. 

Dr. al Shaibah and members of SAPRWG presented the interim protocol and gave a report on the activity of the group and the consultation process to Queen’s Senate last week and will present this weekend to the Board of Trustees.

“We value any feedback as it will contribute to the final recommendations leading to the development and implementation of sexual assault prevention and response policies, procedures, and programs at Queen’s,” says Dr. al Shaibah.

A subcommittee of SAPRWG was established in late 2014 to work on policy recommendations. Both the policy committee and SAPRWG are expected to have progress reports and policy recommendations by April 30, 2015.

If you would like to participate in an interview or focus group, please email vpdean.sa@queensu.ca. Feedback can also be provided through a confidential online survey.