VIA E-MAIL ONLY:

October20,2014

Reply to:
Lisa Newton
OfficeoftheAccess&PrivacyCoordinator
613-533-6000, ext. 74024
QueensUniversity
lisa.newton@queensu.ca
Kingston,OntarioCanadaK7L3N6
Tel.(613)5332211
Fax.(613)5336263
access.privacy@queensu.ca

Dear Mr. Koebrich:

Re:FIPPARequest2014012
Thisletterisinresponsetoyourrecentrequest,underOntariosFreedomofInformation
andProtectionofPrivacyAct,forinformationonhowQueensUniversityhasresponded
toreportsofsexualassaultreceivedbyCampusSecuritybetweenSeptember1,2009and
April30,2014.
ThisissueisforemostofmindwithQueensUniversityAdministratorsandthepublic,
given the recent coverage of other universities in Canada and the United States. At
Queensweareproudofthewidearrayofresources,bothpreventativeandresponsive,
towhichstudentshaveaccessduringtheirtimeatQueens.Queensalsohasarobust
internalnonacademicdisciplinesystemtoaddressallegationsofsexualassault,while
respectingrespondentsrighttoeducationandthelegalpresumptionofinnocence.
AtitsSeptembermeeting,theAuditCommitteeoftheBoardofTrusteesauthorizedthe
publication of an internal report titled Report on Policies, Procedures, and Support
ProgrammesinPlacetoAddressSexualAssaultInvolvingStudents.Shortly,thisreportwill
beavailableontheQueenswebsite,Iwilladviseyoubyemailwhenithasbeenposted;
Itrustthatyouwillfindithelpfulandinformative.
Asdiscussed,theUniversityisunabletoreleasetherecordsthatyourequestedunder
Ontarios Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act because they contain
individuals personal information, the privacy and confidentiality of which the
Universityisobligatedtoprotect.However,giventhepublicinterestinthisissue,the
Universityiscommittedtotransparencyinhowreportsofoncampussexualassaultare
handledatQueens.Assuch,myofficehaspreparedananonymizedsummaryofthe
informationresponsivetoyourrequest.FollowingdiscussionwithmyLegalAssistant,
youagreedthatthisformofresponsewasappropriateandacceptable,giventhesubject
matterandthehighlysensitivenatureoftheinformationinvolved.

The summary below outlines the list of incidents reported to Campus Security that
correspond to the timeframe covered by your request, accompanied by a highlevel
summaryoftheUniversitysresponse(s).
Incident #1 - 2009

CampusSecuritywascalledtomeetwithanindividualandhis/herResidenceDon.The
individualreportedtotheResidenceDonthatanassaulthadtakenplacethateveningin
aresidenceroombelongingtoafriendoftheindividual.TheResidenceDoncontacted
CampusSecurity.
CampusSecurityprovidedtheindividualwithanumberofavailableoptionsincluding:
(i)havingeithertheKingstonPoliceorCampusSecurityspeakwiththerespondent;and
(ii)areferraltotheHumanRightsOfficeforassistance/guidance/counselling.
TheindividualfeltthatcontactingtheHumanRightsOfficewouldbethebestcourseof
action.CampusSecurityundertooktofollowupbytelephonewiththeHumanRights
Officetoadvisethattheymightreceiveacallfromanindividualseekingassistanceabout
a sexual assault. The individual was also advised to immediately contact Campus
Securityifs/heneededanyfurtherassistance.Forprotectionofpersonalprivacy,facts
aboutwhetherornottheindividualsoughtorreceivedanycounsellingand/oradvice
willnotbedisclosedandthusarenotincludedinthissummary.
Campus Security will normally only report an incident to Kingston Police with the
consentofthecomplainant.Nonewasreceivedinthiscase.
Residence Life did initiate an investigation and disciplinary hearing; the process was
subsequentlydiscontinuedattherequestofthecomplainant.
Incident #2 2009

Campus Security received a report from a third person that an individual had been
sexuallyassaultedintheindividualsresidenceroom.Theindividualdidnotwantto
speakwithCampusSecuritybutauthorizedthethirdpersontodoso.
Theindividualwasescortedtohospitalbythethirdperson.CampusSecurityprovided
the third person with contact information for a counsellor in Health Counselling and
DisabilityServicesandencouragedthethirdpersontotrytopersuadetheindividualto
contact Campus Security to make a report. As no report from the individual was
received,CampusSecuritycouldtakenofurtheraction.
Campus Security will normally only report an incident to Kingston Police with the
consentofthecomplainant.Nonewasreceivedinthiscase.

Page 2

Forprotectionofpersonalprivacy,factsaboutwhetherornottheindividualsoughtor
receivedanycounsellingand/oradvicewillnotbedisclosedandthusarenotincludedin
thissummary.
Incident #3 2010

CampusSecuritywascalledtorespondtoanincidentintheARC.Theindividualwas
offeredanescorthomebySecurityServicesandinformationaboutavailablecounselling
andsupportservices.TheindividualassuredCampusSecuritythats/hewasfine,but
wantedtomakesuretheincidenthadbeenreported.
Basedonthenatureandseverityofthereportedincident,theaccusedshadhis/herARC
membership revoked and Campus Security issued a Notice of Prohibition barring all
accesstocampus.
Ultimately,theindividualreportedtheincidenttoKingstonPoliceandcriminalcharges
werelaid,towhichtheaccusedpledguilty.
Forprotectionofpersonalprivacy,factsaboutwhetherornottheindividualsoughtor
receivedanycounsellingand/oradvicewillnotbedisclosedandthusarenotincludedin
thissummary.
Incident #4 - 2011

AnindividualwasescortedtoSecurityServicesbyaResidenceLifeCoordinatortoreport
anincidentofsexualassaultthathadoccurredsomemonthspreviously,in2010.The
individualdidnotwishtopursueacomplaintanyfurtherthantoprovideareportto
CampusSecurity.
Theindividualwasadvisedthatbasedonthedescriptionoftheincidentasexualassault,
perthedefinitionintheCriminalCode,hadoccurredbutthatareporttoKingstonPolice
would only be made with the individuals consent. Consent was not given. The
individual received guidance about available counselling and indicated s/he would
followup on counselling once the academic term was over. The individual expressly
askedthatnofurtheractionbetakenbytheUniversityandthatnoothersbeadvisedof
thissituation,includingKingstonPolice.
Forprotectionofpersonalprivacy,factsaboutwhetherornottheindividualsoughtor
receivedanycounsellingand/oradvicewillnotbedisclosedandthusarenotincludedin
thissummary.
Incident #5 - 2012

CampusSecurityandKingstonPolicereceivedareportofanincidentinresidencefrom
athirdpersonwhowasaskedbyanindividualtocontactCampusSecuritytoreportthat

Page 3

s/hewassexuallyassaulted.CampusSecurity,withtheindividualsconsent,attendedat
a location chosen by the individual and took his/her statement. Campus Security
provided the individual with information about the various counselling and support
servicesavailable.
The individual expressed a wish to speak with Kingston Police. Campus Security
contactedKingstonPolice,whoattendedtospeakwiththeindividualandalsosecurethe
locationoftheincidentforforensicinvestigation.Theindividualalsoaskedformedical
attentionandwastakentohospital.Attheindividualsrequest,s/hewasaccompanied
tohospitalonlybyhis/herfriends.
CampusSecurityprovidedassistancetoKingstonPolicethatpermittedidentificationof
the accused, including security footage from the reported location of the assault.
KingstonPolicelaidcriminalcharges.
TheaccusedwasrequiredtoattendatHealthCounsellingandDisabilityServicesfora
threat assessment. Based on the nature and severity of the allegations, the University
servedtheaccusedwithaNoticeofProhibitionbarringaccesstoallUniversityresidence
properties,includinghis/herownresidence.Thiscaseremainsopenandatrialdatehas
beenset.
Forprotectionofpersonalprivacy,factsaboutwhetherornottheindividualsoughtor
receivedanycounsellingand/oradvicewillnotbedisclosedandthusarenotincludedin
thissummary.
Incident #6 - 2012

ResidenceLifereceivedareportofanoncampusincidentofsexualassault.AResidence
LifeCoordinatoralertedCampusSecuritywhospokewiththeindividualandwitnesses.
Campus Security offered medical assistance to the individual, which was declined.
Campus Security encouraged the individual to make a report to Kingston Police and
offeredtofacilitateameetingwiththePolice.CampusSecurityprovidedtheindividual
with information about the various counselling and support services available. For
protection of personal privacy, facts about whether or not the individual sought or
receivedanycounsellingand/oradvicewillnotbedisclosedandthusarenotincludedin
thissummary.
Subsequently Campus Security was advised that the individual wished to remain
anonymousanddidnotwanttofileareportwithKingstonPolice.
BasedoninformationprovidedbytheindividualandwitnessestheUniversitywasable
toidentifytherespondent.Havingregardforthenatureandseverityoftheallegation

Page 4

reported, Residence Life initiated an investigation and the University served the
respondentwithaNoticeofProhibitionbaringaccesstoaparticularresidencebuilding
andfromconsuminganyalcoholpendingtheoutcomeoftheinvestigation.Ahearing
was held and a finding of responsibility was made. A sanction was imposed by
Residence Life involving mandatory sex education, a bar on all interaction with the
complainantandanyoneelseinvolvedinthehearing,andacompletebarfromentering
aparticularresidencebuilding.
Incident #7 2013

CampusSecurityreceivedareportofanoffcampusincident.CampusSecurityasked
thecomplainantifs/hewishedtomakeareporttoKingstonPoliceandthecomplainant
respondedthats/hedid.CampusSecuritynotifiedKingstonPolice.CampusSecurity
offered medical assistance which was accepted and the individual was escorted by
Campus Security to the hospital. Campus Security advised Kingston Police that the
individualwasatthehospital.
CampusSecurityprovidedthecomplainantwithinformationaboutavailablecounselling
andsupportservices.Forprotectionofpersonalprivacy,factsaboutwhetherornotthe
individualsoughtorreceivedanycounsellingand/oradvicewillnotbedisclosedand
thusarenotincludedinthissummary.

Sincerely,

Lisa Newton
Access & Privacy Coordinator
copy to: file

Page 5