New online reporting platform aims to minimize campus sexual violence

A new partnership at Okanagan College aims to enhance safety and reduce sexual violence on campus.

The post-secondary is now working with REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors). The 24/7 online reporting and information platform gives students and staff more options to report campus sexual harassment, misconduct, and assault.

REES features multiple reporting options and information about available resources and supports in the community.

“We know that acts of sexual violence are prevalent in society and that they are significantly under reported,” Student Services Manager Angela Checkley said.

She said the process of reporting or accessing services for sexual violence can be intimidating and the school wanted to make sure people had a more comfortable outlet.

Last fall, the college launched a mandatory online sexual violence and consent course for all students.

Checkley said while there are many ways to report an incident at the college, there needs to be an equal number of educational opportunities.

“Yes, you can provide the opportunity for students to report in a way they feel comfortable, to access supports, but you also need to balance that out with creating awareness about what is sexual violence and how do you move forward with creating a culture of consent on campus,” she said.

In a 2019 Statistics Canada survey that looked at personal safety among post-secondary students, 71 per cent said they witnessed or experienced unwanted sexualized behaviors over the past year. At the same time, 10 per cent of female students had experienced a sexual assault in a post-secondary setting over the previous year.

Columbia Bible College, St. Francis Xavier University, the University of Windsor, and the University of Winnipeg also have REES on campus.