Following the incidents at Cornell and St.FX, two Mt.A staff members explain how support works on campus
Editor’s Note: This report contains descriptions of sexual violence.
After a lawsuit at Cornell University and a sign near St. Francis Xavier University (St. FX) drew attention to campus sexual violence, The Argosy spoke with two Mt.A staff members dedicated to sexualized violence response and prevention about where students can turn and what happens next.
On Sept. 28, Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Housten said his office will reopen its investigation into an alleged 2024 assault at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house, CBS News reported. The move follows a civil lawsuit filed in September, in which a woman alleges seven fraternity members drugged and raped her. Van Husten said his office will present the case to a grand jury, which will decide whether to indict.
This past month in Nova Scotia, a sign posted in an off-campus house in Antigonish during homecoming read, “Drop-off zone: Acadia girlfriends.” In a statement reported by the Canadian Press, St.FX’s president, Andrew Hakin, called it “degrading and deeply concerning.” All eight students who live in the house are under investigation, the University said, according to CTV News.
Tara Taylor, the St.FX professor who shared a photo of the sign, connected it to the incident at Cornell. “I thought it was incredibly tone deaf of students, given what’s happening with Cornell,” Taylor told CTV News.
When asked in an interview with The Argosy how news like this might affect students at Mt.A, Rene Ross, Mt.A’s sexualized violence prevention and education coordinator, said it can stir up experiences people already carry. “It can be really hard when there’s something in the news,” Ross said. “It’s okay to have those feelings. It’s okay to come and talk about it.”
For students ready to take the next step, one point of contact is Jade Lister, Mt.A’s sexualized violence response consultant. As a registered nurse and forensic nurse examiner, Lister supports students affected by sexual or gender-based violence, whether it happens on campus, off campus, or before they arrived at Mt.A.
The first conversation does not require intimate details. A disclosure can be as simple as telling Lister that something happened. In an interview with The Argosy, Lister said, “you tell me as little or as much as you want to let me know.” Before a student shares anything, Lister outlines where confidentiality has its limits, such as a serious risk to someone’s safety or the involvement of a minor, so students are aware before they disclose.
After disclosing, the options branch. To report to the University, students may fill out a complaint form with a written account of what happened, dates, who was involved, and any accommodations they need. Students can also go directly to the RCMP without involving the University. Lister said, “I usually accompany students if they’re comfortable with me going,” adding that “a lot of students use that option.” For students who find it difficult to communicate what happened verbally, there is the StarRez disclosure form, an online option open to students, staff, and faculty, which can be found by searching the university’s website. Lister said she is able to read submissions ahead of time, so students don’t have to verbally repeat anything they’ve written prior to their meeting.
For students who would rather talk in person, the University now has a sexualized violence prevention office in room 129 of the Wallace McCain Student Center. “You don’t have to have experienced sexual violence to come and speak to us,” Ross said.
Ross, who coordinates prevention and education, has worked in sexual health and rights for about 25 years, including co-leading Nova Scotia’s provincial sexualized violence strategy. Her programming at Mt.A ranges from zine-making workshops and art pop-ups to bystander and leadership training with athletic teams.
At Mt.A, support does not hinge on filing a complaint, giving a full account, or deciding what comes next. Students can start with a conversation, a form, or a visit to the office, and go only as far as they choose. Lister’s message to anyone still hesitating is direct. “I don’t want people to feel like they can’t come in because they’re scared,” Lister said. “It’s okay to seek support, and it’s okay to do it on their timeline.”
Students can reach Jade Lister at [email protected] or through the Wellness Centre, which can be reached at (506) 364-2163. Rene Ross’s office is in Room 129 of the same building, and she can be reached at [email protected]. The StarRez portal, which students can find by searching the university’s website, runs 24/7.
In an emergency, call 911 and notify Campus Security at (506) 364-2228. For off-campus support, the Jade Center’s 24/7 support line is (844) 853-0811, Sexual Violence New Brunswick can be reached at (506) 454-0437, and the RCMP’s non-emergency line for Sackville is (888) 506-7267.