New Brunswick officially recognized gender-based violence as an epidemic in June and allocated $9.2 million towards enhancing services. However, advocates within educational institutions emphasize the necessity for increased funding to combat this issue on college and university campuses.
According to Megen Gaudet, a campus sexual assault support advocate from Sexual Violence New Brunswick, the initial six weeks of the academic year witness the highest rates of sexual violence at post-secondary institutions. Sexual violence, as defined by the New Brunswick government, encompasses any non-consensual sexual act.
Gaudet’s work at the New Brunswick Community College, St. Thomas University, and the University of New Brunswick in Fredericton and Saint John involves supporting students, especially during the heightened vulnerability experienced by new students in unfamiliar environments, particularly in September and October. Factors such as alcohol and drug use can amplify this vulnerability, although they are not the root cause.
Madiha Waqar, a third-year student at Mount Allison University and a member of the national student advisory council with The Courage to Act Foundation, stresses the need for continuous education and training throughout the academic year rather than solely during orientation week. She points out the lack of mandatory participation in training programs as a significant challenge.
The Courage to Act Foundation collaborates with survivors, institutions, and governments to address sexual and gender-based violence on post-secondary campuses. Both Waqar and Gaudet advocate for increased funding to sustain long-term contracts for individuals engaged in this critical work.
Aubrianna Snow, a project manager at The Courage to Act Foundation, highlights the insufficient funding for support workers in New Brunswick and nationwide. She emphasizes the importance of enacting legislation in all provinces and territories to combat sexual violence on college and university campuses effectively.
Snow underscores the need for standardized policies, regular policy reviews, and consent education, as seen in provinces like Quebec and Ontario. The absence of a national approach leads to resource disparities between campuses, necessitating a more cohesive and uniform strategy.
While New Brunswick has taken steps to address campus sexual violence by partnering with the Department of Women’s Equality to hire a campus sexual violence advisor and provide bystander intervention training, advocates stress the importance of continuous efforts and increased resources to create safer post-secondary environments.
Consent Awareness Week, observed from September 15 to 19, aims to raise awareness about consent and healthy relationships. Sexual Violence New Brunswick offers support services, including a support line and chat services, for individuals in need of assistance.
