Researchers at the University of New Brunswick have released results of a study into sexual violence on campus, and school officials say the figures aren’t all that surprising.
More than 1,200 UNB Fredericton students took part in the survey beginning in the fall of 2015. Of those who completed the survey, 21 per cent reported they had been sexually assaulted after becoming a student on campus.
“Within that number the most common kind of assault students reported was sexual touching, but they also reported more severe types of assault,” said Rice Fuller, UNB’s senior director of health and wellness.
It's the first time UNB has conducted this kind of report.
“To get a snapshot of what things look like on campus now. It’s also meant to be a living document,” said George MacLean, UNB vice-president of academic. “This research will be ongoing so we have a better sense down the road of where the trends are on campus and the types of responses that need to be put in place.”
Administration at UNB says the findings are in line with what other North American universities are reporting.
Jenn Richard at the Fredericton Sexual Assault Centre says there's been growing acceptance on university campuses everywhere that being honest and transparent is key to ending sexual assault.
“There is not only a conversation with students happening, but now there's a conversation happening within the institutions themselves, with administration and faculty,” Richard said.
UNB introduced a sexual assault policy in the spring of 2016, and hired a campus sexual assault support advocate in the fall.
“This is really the first year I've seen a lot come out about sexual assault and sexual violence,” said Katie Beers of the UNB Fredericton students’ union. “There's always the consent campaign at the beginning of the year, but we don't have enough discussion about it.”
UNB says the findings from the report are being shared with the city's other post-secondary institutions.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore.
