Brandon University halts contracts requiring sex assault victims to keep silent

Brandon University has agreed to end the practice of having victims of sex assault on campus sign "behavioural contracts" that would keep them silent,president and vice-chancellor Gervan Fearon says.

"We acknowledged that itisnot helpful for the survivor," Fearon told a room of reporters and students Tuesday afternoon on campus in Brandon, Man. "It was inappropriate for us to have used it."

The policychange comes afterWe Believe Survivors, a campus group that was formed just 10days ago, discovered the existence of the contract on a forum it set up forstudents to post anonymously about their stories of sexual violence on campus.

CBC News spoke with an allegedvictim who signed one of the contracts. She was 17 when she was sexually assaulted in a residence at Brandon University in September 2015, she said.

• Brandon University sexual assault victims forced to sign contract that keeps them silent

Fearon said a task force was formed following the incident last fall that recommended changing the university's policy.

"I am pleased to report we have acted on that recommendation and will not have any student behavioural contracts in such cases at this university," Fearon said.

The previouscontractspelledout that the signer cannot have contact with the other person involved in an incident and that they are not to discuss what happened with anyone else other than a counsellor, although they were not prohibited fromreporting the incident to police.

Fingers crossed that good change is coming.- BU student,sexual assault survivor

Fearonsaid there has only been one sex assault reported to university administration in the past year. Hesaidcontracts like the one BU has used in the past are used by other universities in certain contexts, though rarely in cases of sexual assault,andhe recognizes they are unhelpful and no longer appropriate.

Steven Robinson, acting vice-president of academic services at BU, said he knows of only two times where a behavioural contract has been used in recent years, the 2015 case being the only one involving sexual assault.

Contracts 'not an uncommon tool'

"They're not an uncommon tool in cases of conflict between students orpotentiallythreatening situations that involve students to encourage them to avoid conflict,"he said.

Fearonwould not confirm whether anyone involved in drafting the original policy will be disciplined, saying only that the university will "learn from errors and go forward with improvements."

"We take action towards educating, preventing, addressing incidences of sexual violence, assault and harassment here at the university. Categorically, it is clearthat astudent behavioural contract was used by Brandon University. Categorically, we acknowledge it was not appropriate and is not appropriate, in this case or in cases of sexual assault, sexual violence or sexual harassment," Fearon said.

The task force also recommended the university make advocates readily available to help survivors following an assault, as well as form a committee toreviewcurrent policies at other Canadian universities. The hope, Fearon said, isto have a "new formal policy" available in September 2016.

Careof student 'paramount'

Sharon Hooper,chief of human resources with BU, chaired the task force formed in October, along withDean Care,dean of health studies, and Chris Brown, anassistantprofessorin the faculty of education.

"The care and concern of the student was paramount, as well as to ensure that we identifygaps in our policies, programs and services on campus,"Hooper said. "We looked at everything."

Fearonpraised the work of student groups who have been working to support survivors and raise awareness about sexual assault on campus. Hooper added members involved with the task force havebeen in talks with BUstudent union representatives to determine the next stepsas the winter term comes to an end.

"We have great talent on this campus with various groups. We want to have a cross-functional team of people put together, heavilyweighted towards students,"Hooper said.

Survivor's thoughts on policy change

The student and sexual assault survivor at the centre of the controversy spoke with CBC News after the BU announcement under the condition she not be named.

She said she was happy to see such a supportive crowd at the news conference, but was disappointed that BU associate vice-president of student services Tom Brophy wasn't there.

Brophy previously stood by the university`s use of the behavioural contract under certain circumstances. He said they are meant to "protect students," not to re-victimize assault survivors. Despite standing by the policy, he said there is always "room to improve."

The student said that she is happy to see change is possibly on the way, but said it's unfortunate it has taken this long.

"Fingers crossed that good change is coming," she said.