Enhancing Care and Advocacy for Sexual Assault Survivors on Canadian Campuses

Oct 15, 2026

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Media scrutiny of campus rape chant controversies, misogynist posts, and related institutional suspensions highlights sexual assault as a systemic issue across Canadian universities and colleges. This paper analyzes how campus sexual-assault services are structured, aiming to identify best practices and key barriers to effectiveness. Data collection includes an environmental scan of programs and campus-community collaborations plus a half-day symposium with stakeholders. Findings show reliance on volunteers and off-campus partnerships, with funding constraints limiting center functionality; recommendations emphasize public education and professionally delivered specialized services.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages15

Reading Time38 min

AccessFree to download

Abstract

Résumé

Introduction

CSSHE SCÉES Canadian Journal of Higher Education Revue canadienne d’enseignement supérieur Volume 46, No. 2, 2016, pages 40-54 Enhancing Care and Advocacy for Sexual Assault Survivors on Canadian Campuses Elizabeth Quinlan University of Saskatchewan Allyson Clarke Saskatchewan College of Psychologists Natasha Miller University of Saskatchewan Abstract Recent media coverage of the rape chant at Saint Mary’s University, the misogynist Facebook posts at Dalhousie’s dental school, and the suspension of the University of Ottawa’s hockey team have brought the topic of campus sexual assault under intense public scrutiny and the media accounts point toa widespread systemic rape culture on Canadian campuses. The objective of this paper is to examine the existing structure of campus sexual assault services at Canadian universities and colleges in order to highlight best practicesand barriers to their success. The study’s data collection entailed an environmental scan of existing programs and campus-community collaborations across Canada, and a half-day symposium in which stakeholders reviewed the scan’s results and developed recommendations. The study’s findings indicate that most campus sexual assault and women’s centres rely on volunteers and collaboration with off-campus organizations in order to maintain a breadth of services for sexual assault survivors. Funding challenges were found to impose significant limitations to the functionality of the centres. The paper closes with recommendations for improvements, including public education programming and dedicated services provided by professionals with specialized training and experience. CJHE / RCES Volume 46, No. 2, 2016 Enhancing Care and Advocacy / E. Quinlan, A. Clarke, & N. Miller 41 Résumé La récente couverture médiatique provoquée par un chant d’initiation encourageant le viol à l’Université Saint Mary, des messages misogynesaffichés sur la page Facebook del’école de dentisterie del’Université Dalhousie à Halifax et la suspension de l’équipe de hockey de l’Université d’Ottawa a mis sur lasellette les agressions sexuelles sur les campus. Toutes ces situations ont faitl’objet d’un examen attentif du public et confirment une culture du viol sur les campus canadiens. L’objectif de la présente étude est d’examiner la structure existante des services d’intervention en matière d’agression sexuelle sur les campus des universités et des collèges du Canada pour mettre en évidence les meilleures pratiques et les obstacles à leur réussite. Les données de l’étude comportent une analyse environnementale des programmes existants et dela collaboration entre campus et collectivités partout au Canada, ainsi qu’un symposium d’une demi-journée lors duquel des intervenants ont examiné les résultats del’analyse environnementale, puis soumisleurs recommandations. Les résultats de l’étude indiquent que la plupart des centres pour femmeset des organismes de défense contre les agressions sexuelles comptent sur des bénévoles et une collaboration avec des organismes hors campus pour maintenir l’étendue des services offerts aux victimes d’agression sexuelle. Parailleurs, des difficultés financières ont imposé des limites importantes à lafonctionnalité des centres. L’étude conclut en recommandant d’apporter desaméliorations, dont la mise en œuvre de programmes d’éducation du public et l’offre de services fournis par des professionnels expérimentés détenant une formation spécialisée. Introduction Despite ongoing educational efforts, sexual assault ranks in the top five violent crimes against women in Canada (Sinha, 2013). Although sexual assaults occur in a variety of environments (e.g., bars, restaurants, homes), university and college campuses are among the most common sites (Kong, Johnson, Beattie, & Cardillo, 2003) . Campuses, particularly large urban campuses, are sexual assault “hot spots” due to the convergence of several factors known to increase women’s vulnerabi

FAQs

What is the main objective of the paper?

To examine the existing structure of campus sexual-assault services at Canadian universities and colleges in order to highlight best practices and barriers to their success.

How were the study data collected?

Through an environmental scan of existing programs and campus-community collaborations across Canada, followed by a half-day symposium where stakeholders reviewed the scan and developed recommendations.

What barriers to effective sexual-assault services were identified?

Funding challenges imposed significant limitations on the functionality of many campus centers.

Oct 15, 2026

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