Reporting sexual violence

Mount Allison has partnered with REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors) to provide secure, online reporting for sexual violence on campus. REES can be accessed online anywhere, anytime.

REES allows members of the Mount Allison campus community who have experienced sexual misconduct, harassment, or assault to 'Create a Record' of the incident and choose from multiple reporting options. The record is encrypted and securely stored in REES.

1. What can I report in REES?

• REES can be used to report any unwanted sexualized behaviour (physical, verbal, or online) that happens within the campus community.

2. Where can I access REES?

• Go to https://reescommunity.com/campus/ and select 'Mount Allison University' from the drop-down list.

3. What happens once I've created a record of the incident in REES?

• Once you 'Create a Record', you can choose from multiple reporting options OR save your record and decide later. Reporting is not mandatory.
• Only you can access your record until you choose if and when to share it. Your record is encrypted and securely stored in REES. Records stored in REES cannot be accessed by REES or Mount Allison.
• REES also provides information about campus and community-based resources such as sexual assault centres, healthcare, and support services.

4. What are the reporting options in REES?

Anonymous Report

• An 'Anonymous Report' allows an individual to share information about an incident of sexual harassment, misconduct, or assault without identifying themselves or identifying the person who has harmed them.
• Anonymous reports will include only the multiple-choice questions and gender questions from your record. 'Anonymous Report' data will be provided by REES to Mount Allison to measure the incidence and identify patterns of sexual violence on campus, with the goal of improving policy, supports, or responses to sexual violence on campus.
• Because an 'Anonymous Report' does not include any identifying information about the persons involved, it cannot initiate an investigation, and Mount Allison does not have the ability to follow up with you directly.

Connect to My Campus

• 'Connect to My Campus' allows you to reach out to Mount Allison's Sexual Violence Consultant, Jade Lister. You can receive support, resources, and information, or discuss the formal complaint process.
• There is no time limit to 'Connect to My Campus'.

Repeat Perpetrator Identification (RPI)

• 'Repeat Perpetrator Identification (RPI)' is a feature of REES that helps to identify a person whose behaviour has harmed multiple people.
• You provide identifying information about the person that is stored in a database. If more than one individual identifies the same person has harmed them, a match is made and Mount Allison is notified.

Jade Lister, Mount Allison's Sexualized Violence Response Consultant, will work collaboratively with you to explore the supports, resources, and accommodations you may need.

This includes:

• Explaining official complaints pathways and processes
• Helping you navigate the Sexual Violence Policy
• Helping you navigate systems and resources within the University
• Connecting you to external resources and supports
• Coordinating academic, housing, and other accommodations
• Connecting and accompaniment to legal, housing or health services
• Providing safety planning
• Referring you to counselling, health services, and legal support
• Coordinating accessibility needs such as translation, interpretation, assistive technology, and cultural needs

You can connect with them directly at jlister@mta.ca.

In addition to informing your of resources on campus, they're required to connect you to care. They will:

• Connect you to Jade Lister, Mount Allison's Sexualized Violence Response Consultant
• Show you how to submit a REES disclosure

• Residence Life Coordinator: Rohil Basapa, rbasapa@mta.ca
• EDI Student Advisor: Lucy Ofori, lofori@mta.ca
• Spiritual Care Coordinator: Rev. Ellie Humel, ehummel@mta.ca
• International Student Advisor (international students): Christa Maston, cmaston@mta.ca
• International Affairs Coordinator (exchange students, visiting international students, MASSIE students): Robin Walker, rwalker@mta.ca

Campus security is also available 24/7 as a resources hub. Students, staff, and faculty can call for information about support and crisis lines: (506) 364-2228.

1. Whether you submitted a disclosure via REES, through a disclosure connection in residence, through a direct email to the Sexualized Violence Response Consultant, or through a Connect-to-Care staff person, Jade Lister will contact you via email to offer an in-person or online appointment. You're welcome to bring a support person to all meetings. Please note that Jade is not available 24/7 and will normally answer emails during business hours.
    
2. During your appointment(s), Jade will review all available supports, resources, and accommodations available to you. They'll also provide you with an overview of the formal complaint pathways.
   
   What kinds of internal (Mount Allison) support, resources, and accommodations (S/R/A) are there? Counselling, safety planning, academic accommodations, housing accommodations (for students in residence), medical services, harm reduction, sexual violence prevention and education
   
   What kind of external S/R/A are there? External counselling, Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE), sexual assault centers/support lines, transition houses/domestic violence shelters, report to police, New Brunswick Human Rights Commission
    
3. If your immediate needs are met, you've been connected to the appropriate  S/R/A, and you would not like to file a further complaint, you can stop here. You'll be offered follow ups and check ins. If not, go to Step 4.
    
4. If your immediate needs are met but you do want to file a complaint, proceed to the complaints process.

STEP 1: Complainant (person filing the complaint) completes a Sexualized Violence Complaint Form

• The complaint form is then submitted to the Director, Student Experience (DSE)
• The complaint form may be submitted to the DSE for student by Sexualized Violence Consultant Jade Lister

STEP 2: Complainant will receive a receipt response within 3-5 business days

• Unless extenuating circumstances arise
• A receipt response is confirmation that the complaint has been received only

STEP 3: DSE contacts and meets with respondent to review the complaint

• DSE provides an overview of the process within 10-12 business days of sending the read receipt unless extenuating circumstances arise
• The complainant may choose to meet with the DSE, but is not required to do so

STEP 4: Respondent will complete a Respondent Information Form and return it to the DSE

• DSE may impose immediate measures during the process before any decision-making takes place
• Immediate measures may include, but are not limited to: no/limited contact order, trespass or restricted access order, removal from campus or residence, suspension, exclusion from social, athletic or other extra-curricular activities, limiting access to services or facilities, or other safety measures

If the complainant and respondent are able to reach a resolution: the agreement is documented and signed by both parties.

• Accountability/remedial/disciplinary measures are delegated to the appropriate departments.
• Monitor for compliance/implementation.
• If there is a failure to implement or comply the DSE (or appropriate department) may:
  • Impose disciplinary or remedial action on the respondent
  • Initiate an investigation

If the complainant and respondent are not able to reach a resolution:

• DSE may make a determination regarding outcome and impose it on the respondent. If they continue to fail to comply, the DSE may impose disciplinary action
• DSE may initiate an investigation

STEP 1: Complainant (person filing the complaint) completes a Sexualized Violence Complaint Form.

• The complaint form is submitted to the Vice-President, International and Student Affairs (VPISA). The complaint form may be submitted for student by Sexualized Violence Consultant Jade Lister
• The complainant will receive a receipt response within 3-5 business days, unless extenuating circumstances arise
• A receipt response is confirmation that the complaint has been received only

STEP 2: VPISA contacts and meets with respondent to review the complaint

• VPISA provides an overview of the process within 10-12 business days of sending the read receipt unless extenuating circumstances arise.
• The complainant may choose to meet with the VPISA, but is not required to do so.

STEP 3: Respondent completes Respondent Information Form and returns it to VPISA

VPISA may recommend an alternative outcome. If survivor accepts an alternative outcome the complaint becomes non-investigative.

STEP 4: VPISA appoints investigator (internal or external)

• VPISA may also make a determination on the complaint without appointing an investigator
• Investigator conducts fact finding. Every effort will be made to conduct an expedient and comprehensive investigation; however, the timeline of an investigation is dependent on a variety of factors, including the availability of the parties or witnesses
• Investigator compiles information into a report
• Report is submitted to VPISA who reviews and determines if there was a policy breach

STEP 5: VPISA determines accountability/remedy/sanction

• Decision/action communicated to complainant/respondent. A summary report is shared with both parties
• Implementation/compliance delegated to appropriate departments
• Monitor for implementation/compliance
• If there is a failure to implement/comply: VPISA may impose further or escalating disciplinary measures

Outcomes include, but are not limited to:

• Survivor impact statement
• Apology process
• Facilitated discussion
• Education sessions
• Counselling
• No contact/limited contact order
• Change in living arrangements
• Probationary measures
• Verbal warning
• Letter of reprimand
• Restrictions related to accessing buildings or parts of campus or certain activities
• Removal from academic classes, labs, or tutorials
• Removal from non-academic groups
• No trespass/restricted access orders
• Limited access to services or facilities
• Removal from social, athletic, or other extra-curricular activities
• Eviction from residence or University-owned housing
• Suspension from the University for a specified period
• Expulsion from the University permanently

An appeal must be submitted within 15 business days of receiving the decision and/or outcome. An additional 5 days may be granted for extenuating circumstances.

The Chair of the Appeals Committee will determine if there are grounds for the appeal to move forward to the Appeals Committee.

The Appeals Committee is comprised of neutral parties who will review the appeal in the context of the Sexual Violence Policy and Procedures. The Appeals Committee will be guided by the same principles as the procedure: trauma-informed approach, procedural fairness, and harm reduction.

While an appeal in in process, the decision and/or outcome will remain in effect.

The decision of the Appeals Committee if final.

The following are grounds for appeal:

• A significant error occurred where procedures were not followed correctly;
• There is clear evidence of a significant conflict of interest on the part of a decision-maker;
• The sanction is not a logical consequence of the infraction;
• There is significant new evidence that was not available at the time of the decision, which has the potential to change the outcome of the complaint.

Questions? Contact Jade Lister, Mount Allison's Sexualized Violence Response Consultant, at jlister@mta.ca.