U of W ready to release final draft of sexual assault policy

The University of Windsor is preparing to release its official Sexual Assault Policy by the end of next month.

The policy’s main focus is the misconceptions and myths around sexual assault and states “these myths downplay the seriousness of sexual misconduct and confuse our understanding of consent.”

Chair of the committee for the policy and dean of students at the University of Windsor, Clayton Smith, said the policy is going to make a big change in student life.

“When implemented, it’s not just going to be another policy,” said Smith. “It will make a difference in the lives of our students and that’s what’s important.”

Dhouha Triki, the senator of the University of Windsor Students’ Alliance involved with the working committee, said it is important for students to know sexual assault happens and the university is taking action to make students know how to act accordingly in those situations.

“Our goal is inform and raise awareness about sexual assault but the dream is to have a campus free from sexual violence,” said Triki. “It’s a right for women to be able to walk the campus without fear and that’s what we intend to try to create with the policy.”

The policy outlines how to treat victims of sexual assault with compassion, dignity and respect, to be informed about disclosing, reporting and complaint options and the limits of confidentiality associated with each option. It also states how students can take reasonable and necessary actions to prevent further unwanted contact with the alleged perpetrator.

“We know that one in four women are sexually assaulted over their university period,” said Jaydee Tarpeh, president of the UWSA. “It’s important to have a policy on campus that keeps the campus safe, especially our female population.”

The policy was open to the public for comments and reviews and is now in the final process before it is officially released.