LONDON, Ont. 鈥� Hoisting signs and chanting slogans denouncing sexual violence, hundreds of students walked out of classes at Western University on Friday to demand a change in what they described as a 鈥渢oxic鈥� campus culture.
The large gathering 鈥� which packed a green space on the London, Ont., school鈥檚 campus 鈥� came days after a series of 颅sexual assault allegations 颅surfaced during the university鈥檚 orientation week, rattling 颅students and prompting the administration to announce new safety measures.
鈥淪top this violence, no more silence,鈥� the crowd chanted shortly after students left their desks at noon.
Lindsey Ip, a third-year 颅student, said she thought the university wasn鈥檛 taking the recent allegations seriously. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been terrifying,鈥� she said as she held up a sign at Friday鈥檚 protest.
Katie Flannery, another student, said she had been harassed by young men at the university as recently as a few days ago when she was walking home from class at night. 鈥淎 car full of guys pulled up, shouted at me and honking the horn, and it was ridiculous,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so disheartening to deal with that especially after the terrible events that took place.鈥�
Morgan McMillan, who is in her first year at Western after transferring from another school, said she鈥檚 on edge at night on campus. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been kind of scary. I had a night class last night, done at 9 p.m., and walking home from that class I was on the phone with a friend in case something happens.鈥�
Western University and London police have said four women have come forward with formal complaints about being sexually assaulted on campus recently.
Police are also investigating allegations made on social media of mass drugging and sexual assaults at the Medway-Sydenham Hall residence on campus during orientation week. The force has said no one has come forward with a formal complaint on those online allegations.
Some students at Friday鈥檚 gathering wrote 鈥渓ove letters to survivors鈥� that were hung on a clothesline. 鈥淗i bestie, you are doing so great,鈥� one note said. 鈥淪tay Strong. I believe in you, we all do.鈥�
Later, students who described themselves as survivors of 颅sexual violence shared their experiences with the crowd.
Teigan Elliott, a third-year student, read a poem she wrote last year titled Rape Victim.
鈥淚f I am drunk and I smile at a man and he assaults me, 颅suddenly no one is too sure who should be responsible,鈥� she read. 鈥淚t鈥檚 alcohol, they cried, it鈥檚 party culture. It鈥檚 boys who are taught not to take no for answer. It鈥檚 men who discovered the system is on their side. It takes the work of a community to uphold rape culture.鈥�
Elliott told the crowd she was a victim of rape.
鈥淚鈥檓 a survivor even when I聽don鈥檛 feel that I have survived,鈥� she said. 鈥淚鈥檓 a survivor of sexual assault, and I am angry.鈥�
Western University president Alan Shepard said the student walkout marked a difficult but important day to honour 颅survivors, hear their stories and hold conversations about gender-based and sexual violence.
鈥淪peaking out and reliving trauma is a painful process. Today, Western students have shown incredible strength and resilience. Western supports today鈥檚 walkout and we will continue to move forward to enhance security and safety on campus,鈥� he said in a statement.
Western announced Thursday that it will require students in residence to take training sessions on sexual violence and consent as it works to address what it describes as a problematic campus culture.
The measure is part of a new action plan that will also see the university hire 100 new 鈥渟afety ambassadors鈥� 鈥� a mix of upper-year undergraduates and graduate students who will work overnight in residences.
The school also plans to create a task force that will take 鈥渁 comprehensive look鈥� at student safety.
