St Francis Xavier launches online reporting for sexual violence
St. Francis Xavier University is pleased to announce a partnership with REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors), a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week centralized online reporting and information platform that provides increased options for students, staff, and faculty to report sexual violence.
The St. FX Student Union, university administration and the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Advocate have been working together with REES over the summer to make online reporting available to the campus community.
“StFX remains committed to supporting those impacted by sexual violence. Partnering with our Students’ Union to bring the REES anonymous reporting platform to StFX will reduce barriers to disclosing, reporting sexual violence on campus and will provide important information about the services and supports available on campus and in the community” – Elizabeth Yeo, VP Students
The platform includes crucial information about resources and supports available both on campus and in community, as well as offering multiple reporting options.
“The Students’ Union is thrilled to be working with REES and the University to bring this platform to campus. It will reduce barriers to reporting sexual violence on campus, and give students a comfortable space to access the supports offered to them. We hope to see it make campus a safer and healthier space for students.” – Meredith Cudmore-Keating, VP Academic, StFX Students’ Union
According to a 2019 Stats Canada Survey on Individual Safety in the Postsecondary Student Population, 71 percent of postsecondary students witnessed or experienced unwanted sexualized behaviours over the past year, while 10 percent of women students had experienced a sexual assault in a postsecondary setting over the previous year.
St. Francis Xavier is the first post-secondary institution in Nova Scotia to adopt REES and joins the University of Windsor, University of Winnipeg, Brandon University, Red River College, and others in implementing REES.
Contact for St. Francis Xavier
Cindy MacKenzie
Manager of Media Relations
St. Francis Xavier University
cmackenz@stfx.ca
Contact for StFX Student Union
Sean Ryan
General Manager
St. FX Students’ Union
sryan@stfx.ca
Contact for REES
Mary Lobson
Founder & CEO
REES Technology Group Inc.
mary@reescommunity.com
