The inclusion criteria are as follows:
a) you were/are a student at a post-secondary school in Ontario
b) you reported a sexual assault to an employee on campus and
c) you reported a sexual assault that occurred against yourself.
d) you reported on or after January 1st of 2017
For the purpose of this study and participant inclusion sexual assault is defined as any and all uses of power to infringe on or compromise another’s sexual integrity in that it is an invasion on their own power, human rights, and autonomy. Any assault no matter how significant, minor, or material that is committed against one on the basis of sex is considered sexual assault for the purpose of this research.
Purpose of the Research: To inquire on the experience of reporting sexual assaults to post-secondary campuses in Ontario relative to the current rulings on responding to and addressing sexual assaults on campuses in Ontario as per Bill 132 and subsequent institutional policies. Bill 132 came into effect on January 1st of 2017, therefore participants would need to have made their report after said date.
What You Will Be Asked to Do in the Research: Take part in an estimated hour-long telephone interview wherein you will be asked to share your experience of accessing campus resources as a student reporting or disclosing unwanted sexual activity. It is highly advisable that you find a private and secure spot to participate in the interview. A place where you feel most comfortable to discuss your experience.
The interviews will be open-ended and unstructured wherein the participant has the control and is at no point required to disclose more than they would like to. If you wish, the interview may be recorded and transcribed however no identifying information will be retained onto the transcription. Recordings and transcriptions will never be stored in the same place and all information will be stored on password protected devices only accessible to the two nurse researchers. If you would not like your interview to be recorded the researcher will take detailed notes of the interview instead, again, redacting all identifying information.
Information collected from you will include: a recording of you verbally consenting to participate (giving your name is not required), a recording of the interview, and the transcription of the interview. The transcription will not contain identifying information. Personal information will be redacted and other non-personal information will be made un-identifying. For example, Otonabee College Cafeteria would be changed to [large on-campus cafeteria]. The recordings and transcriptions will never be stored in the same place.
Risks and Discomforts: Discussing your experience may cause emotional and psychosocial discomfort. We encourage you to reflect critically on your choice to participate. The interview dynamic will be a non-judgmental safe environment where you have the power and control. On the next page of this document, you will find a list of 24/7 helplines dedicated to sexual assault and violence against women that you may utilize.
If at some point you need a break or your safe location becomes unsafe please indicate that to the interview facilitator or end the interview. Ending the interview at any time in any way will not affect your relationship with the researchers or Trent University now or at any time. If the interview ends abruptly the researchers may follow up with the opportunity to continue at a later date. You are not obligated to follow up or continue.
Benefits of the Research and Benefits to You: One may find it beneficial to engage in a safe and non-judgmental discussion of their experience.
Voluntary Participation: Your participation in the study is completely voluntary and you may choose to stop participating at any time. Your decision not to volunteer will not affect your relationship with the researchers or Trent University now or at any time.
Withdrawal from the Study: You can stop participating in the study at any time, for any reason, if you so decide. Your decision to stop participating, or to refuse to answer particular questions, will not affect your relationship with the researchers, Trent University, or any other group associated with this project. In the event you withdraw from the study, all associated data collected will be immediately destroyed unless you give permission to keep it.
Confidentiality: All information you supply during the research will be held in confidence. As stated earlier, the interview may be audio-recorded with your permission and transcribed or if you do not want to be recorded, then the nurse researcher will take detailed notes. In either case, all identifying information will be redacted. The data will be collected via a digital recording device and safely transcribed while redacting all identifying information. Your data will be safely stored in password protected and encrypted files and only the two researchers will have access to this information. The transcribed data will be stored for the duration of the study including analysis which is expected to conclude as late as August 2021. Confidentiality will be provided to the fullest extent possible by law.
There are legal limits on information researchers can promise to keep confidential. Example: child abuse and participants who may harm themselves or others. If you disclose a desire to harm yourself or someone else, the researchers will be obligated to contact the police and report the potential harm. The interview will need to stop, and you will be encouraged to access one of the listed support helplines in the information sheet.
If you feel you need support after the interview is over, you may contact one of these 24/7 resources listed below:
Assaulted women’s helpline
offers crisis support in over 200 languages
https://www.awhl.org/contact-us
CRISIS LINE
GTA 416.863.0511
GTA TTY 416.364.8762
TOLL-FREE 1.866.863.0511
TOLL-FREE TTY 1.866.863.7868
#SAFE (#7233) on your Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus mobile phone
Talk4Healing
Get 24/7, culturally sensitive crisis counselling, advice and support for Indigenous Women and their families living in urban, rural and remote communities, both on and off reserve.
Support is available in English, Ojibway, Oji-Cree and Cree.
Toll-free: 1-855-554-4325 (1-855-554-HEAL)
Support services for male survivors of sexual abuse
Get 24/7 multilingual support service for male survivors of sexual abuse, both recent and historical.
Toll-free: 1-866-887-0015
If you consent to the above outlined research study please complete the contact form on the home page to schedule an interview.
You will be emailed a document with more information about the researchers prior to the interview.