Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) is a learning community rooted in the Anabaptist faith tradition. In view of the University's mandate and collective conviction that all people are created in the image of God, it is critical that each member of the community, student, staff, faculty, and guests on campus, treat all others with dignity, honour, and respect. The university considers sexual violence to be a violation of a person's rights, dignity, trust, and integrity; of the CMU Community Guidelines; of the Human Rights Code of Manitoba; of the Criminal Code of Canada; and of God's work of reconciliation in the world.
CMU is committed to fostering a safe, healthy, and welcome environment for all community members. This commitment includes building and sustaining a culture where sexual violence and its impact are understood, survivors are supported, and those who commit incidents of sexual violence are held accountable.
CMU is a safe place for students, staff, and faculty who have experienced sexual violence, regardless of identity, expression, or orientation, and regardless of when or where the event took place.
If you would like to share what happened to you, please consider sharing your experience with someone that you trust. There are options for support both on and off the campus.
Please see Frequently Asked Questions for additional information.
Sexual violence is a broad term used to describe any conduct that is unwelcome and of a sexual nature. It includes, but is not limited to, behaviors often described as sexual harassment, sexual assault, and the threat of sexual assault. Sexual violence can happen to anyone regardless of gender or sexual orientation. Some examples of sexual violence includes, but are not limited to:
If you would like more information please consider speaking with (insert names), contacting an off-campus resource, or consulting CMU's Sexual Violence Policy.
Yes, you should talk to someone, depending on the context you should:
CMU expects every member of the CMU community to be respectful of others and to help foster a safe environment free of harassment, exploitation, and intimidation. Everyone at CMU—students, faculty, academic appointees and staff—has a responsibility to know and comply with CMU's Sexual Violence Policy, community guidelines, and relevant laws.
CMU has several processes that can be used to address sexual violence. Since every situation is unique, the process to address each situation will also be somewhat unique. CMU will work with all the individuals involved in a situation to determine a course of action that is appropriate.
Option A: Disclosure
A disclosure happens when a survivor of sexual violence informs another person about an incident of sexual violence. If a survivor discloses to a student leader, a staff or faculty member of CMU they are required to confidently subsequently disclose to either the Dean of Student Life if it involves only students, or to the Director of Human Resources if it involves an employee. This is for record keeping, and you will not be contacted, or forced to participate in any process that you do not wish to.
Option B: Report
A report is a formal procedure for requesting an accommodation that also creates an official record of an incident of sexual violence. A report may be filed by the person who has experienced sexual violence, by a third party, or confidentially with certain staff or faculty members, or through the CMU website. See contact information.
Option C: Complaint
A complaint is a formal procedure for pursuing disciplinary action or sanctions against a person accused of sexual violence (a Respondent). Complaints may be filed only by the individual who has experienced the incident of sexual violence.
Yes. CMU partners with REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors), a simple and secure online reporting platform, to provide online reporting tools. REES is trauma-informed and centred on the needs of survivors, REES bridges online incident reporting with access to critical information about reporting options, resources and supports. Please visit https://www.reescommunity.com/campus to file a report online.
If a written complaint is made against you, a member of the RCC will contact you to inform you of the complaint, and give you a copy of the written complaint. You also will have the opportunity to submit a written account of the events in the complaint. This written account will be considered your official statement to the RCC.
The RCC will arrange a private meeting with you to hear your account and discuss some of the various options for how the complaint may be processed. The RCC may ask clarifying questions during this meeting. You may choose another person to accompany you for support during any meetings throughout the process. However, the person cannot speak on your behalf or interfere with the process.
You can expect to:
Even if the incident happened off campus or online between CMU community members you are encouraged to seek support and speak to someone at CMU. CMU will offer support and resources to you regardless of where the incident occurred.
If a friend, fellow student, or other community member discloses that they have experienced sexual violence, it is critical that you let them know that you believe them. This is the first step in helping them to begin to heal.
Second, let them know that they are not alone. There are also many avenues for support, whether it be making a report, calling a crisis line, or seeking counselling; there is no one way to heal.
Third, support any decision that the Survivor makes. Whether or not they choose to go to the police, choose to go to a sexual assault centre or an emergency room, or choose to disclose to the CMU, it is important that they feel that they have made the right decision for themselves, without judgment from others.
If you are a student leader, staff, or faculty member you are required to subsequently disclose what you have learned to the Dean of Student Life if it involves only students, or the Director of Human Resources if it involves a faculty or staff member. This is for information sake, and the person who disclosed the information initially will not be contacted. Please make sure you inform the individual that you have a duty to subsequently disclose this information.
Printed from: www.cmu.ca/student-life/resources/sexual-violence