London police updated their investigation multiple allegations of sexual assault and violence at Western University, revealing on Tuesday that they are aware of the allegations made on social media about 30 women. So far no one has filed a complaint with the police about these allegations.
The school confirmed Monday that it received four formal allegations of sexual violence by students over the past week and was also studying other allegations filed on social media over the weekend.
This happened when the university confirmed that a student, 18-year-old Gabriel Neil, had died after being assaulted near campus. Police said Neil was found seriously injured in the early hours of Saturday morning and died the next day.
A 21-year-old man, Aliyan Ahmed, has been charged with murder. Western U said the accused person was not a student.
This prompted police to initiate an investigation into the matter, saying they were aware of the “information circulating on social media related to a series of sexual assaults” allegedly occurred at Medway-Sydenham Hall over the weekend.
Investigators said officers on Tuesday had not received official reports of drugs or sexual assault at Sydenham Hall over the weekend or in recent days.
“Given the seriousness of the allegations raised in connection with incidents at Medway-Sydenham Hall, the London Police Service has opened an investigation and we will work in partnership with Western University to identify and support victims and ensure that conduct a thorough investigation, ”a London police spokesman said in a statement.
“Two reports of reports of sexual assault elsewhere on campus were received last week. These incidents remain under investigation, and part of that investigation will include examining possible links to any unreported incidents.”
As a father of four young women, it makes me more upset to hear the allegations of sexual assault that took place last week at Western University. All victims of sexual violence deserve justice. All students should feel safe on campus. Http://t.co/ztZ03IocI3
– Doug Ford (@fordnation) September 14, 2021
In response to Prime Minister Doug Ford’s comment, Western University says the school is working closely with London police in investigating the allegations.
“Right now, Western and LPS have received very little information related to social media reports and we ask anyone with more details to come forward,” Western University wrote on Twitter.
“Unconnected to what we see on social media, Western has received four formal complaints of sexual violence from students over the past week.”
Police said Tuesday that one of the three sexual assault reports / reports they received involved two victims, which is why there are currently three investigations and not four.
A male student was arrested in connection with these assaults, but is no longer in police custody. No charges have been filed. Investigators say local media indicated that four people had been arrested in their investigation, but stressed that it is inaccurate.
A statement from Chris Alleyne, associate vice president of housing and ancillary services, notes that the school will not tolerate sexual violence.
Alleyne says that while an investigation is being conducted, people facing complaints are “sanctioned, which may include withdrawing from campus.” The school has not received any formal complaints from alleged victims.
“It looks like these cases aren’t even connected to what we see on social media.”
Departure scheduled for Friday afternoon
Western University students plan to leave classes Friday to protest a “culture of misogyny” on campus and for what they call a school failure to address it, an organizer said Wednesday.
Organizer Hayden Van Neck, a third-year psychology student, said excessive drinking, partying and aggressive behavior toward women are campus-wide issues that have been present throughout his time in the University.
“There’s this culture of misogyny and homophobia, which are the underlying issues on campus that allow events like this,” Van Neck said in an interview.
“There’s just been a lot of violence over the last week and I think we need real change to prevent that from happening in the future.”
She and about twenty other students have organized the walk, which will see how several sexual assault survivors talk to students as they leave classes Friday at noon.
“The response has been overwhelming,” he said of the students ’reaction to the planned event.
The group planning the walk has several calls for action, including a request to the school to immediately prepare and implement “cohesive and mandatory education training modules based on gender and sexual violence”.
Students are also asking the school to clarify the information process on sexual violence, which Van Neck has said is confusing.
The group also calls on the provincial ministry of colleges and universities to investigate the school’s gender-based violence policies, stating that they “do not protect students”.
Western did not immediately respond to requests for feedback on group outings or calls.
On Instagram, students say they had decided that they should take a stand against the violence that was taking place on campus because of recent events.
There is also one request change.org which calls on the ministry of colleges and universities to conduct a full formal investigation into the Western University. As of Wednesday morning there are more than 3,300 signatures.
Shelter that provides support to Western students as the school faces complaints
A shelter against gender-based violence creates a safe space to support students on the Western University campus after multiple allegations of sexual assault.
Annalize Trudell, education, training and research manager at Anova, a local shelter, said counselors would be on campus Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights to provide support to students who returned last week.
“Students need a safe space right now,” Trudell said.
“They will be able to come and discuss issues in a group space and our advisors will be there next door in individual private spaces to do more of this type of clinical advice.”
Western’s orientation week, which ended over the weekend, saw many complaints come to light.
The university said it withdrew the students from its residence and that it was “facilitating the arrest” related to the four official complaints, but that it did not give further details about these measures.
The big campus student parties caught local politicians and police for violating the province’s social gathering laws.
Western student council said Neil was a freshman in health sciences.
“We know this tragedy will be difficult to prosecute given the challenge it has had in recent days for our student community,” the University Student Council said on Tuesday.
“Please take care of yourself and others. We all deserve to feel safe on campus and we know our community doesn’t do it right now. “
Trudell said Anova had seen an increase in calls to its line of sexual assault and gender-based violence in recent days, as well as a slew of private messages on social media.
She said orientation week is a dangerous time for young women on campuses across the country.
“We are seeing an increase in calls to crisis lines in terms of sexual assaults across the country during and after this week, as well as requests for counseling support,” Trudell said.
According to surveys of high school students across the province of Student Voices on Sexual Violence, one in three Western students surveyed indicated that they had been sexually assaulted in the previous twelve months. More than 8,000 Western students responded to the survey.
“That was in the high end,” Trudell said. “But all campuses have a highly uncomfortable number of sexual assaults.”
Western University President Alan Shepard also issued a statement calling the reports “disturbing.”
“Let me be very clear: sexual violence will never be tolerated on our campus,” Shepard said. “… If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual violence, we have survivor-focused support, including a case manager dedicated to gender-based violence and support for survivors. Survivors have assistance options, including disclosure, a complaint, and / or a request for support In emergencies, Western Special Agent Service and St. Joseph’s Health Care Regional Sexual Assault Program are available. 24 hours a day.
Shepard says the allegations have caused “a concern for security on campus.”
“Please make sure this case is being thoroughly investigated by LPS and that a suspect from the London community is in custody,” he said.
“We are all experiencing a difficult start to the school year, and I am sure that no one feels it more deeply than our students. We are here for you. “
With files by Liam Casey of The Canadian Press