A Statement Regarding The Instances Of Sexualized Violence On Our Campus

Trigger warning: Sexualized Violence.

The StFX Students’ Union is saddened to hear yesterday's communication from the University regarding instances of sexualized violence on our campus. The StFX Students’ Union does not tolerate sexualized violence in any form and will continue to advocate the importance of survivor centric approaches to the University as we work to improve its prevention and response strategies to better support students.

First and foremost, we believe survivors and believe in a system where survivors can come forward with their stories.

Secondly, we believe that the University should be providing full support to anyone processing the information contained in today’s press coverage, especially during exam season.

StFX offers the following resources for students seeking assistance:

StFX Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Advocate
Heather Blackburn
306B Bloomfield Centre
P: 9028675601
E: hblackbu@stfx.ca
Monday - Friday: 9:00AM - 5:00PM

StFX Health and Counselling: 
3rd Floor Bloomfield Centre
P: 9028672263
Monday & Thursday: 8:30AM - 8:00PM; Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday: 8:30AM - 4:30PM

REES (Respect, Educate, Empower Survivors):
As a reminder, all students have access to REES which is available 24/7. REES is an online reporting platform which allows students to create a record of an incident and select from multiple reporting options including: Anonymous Report, Report to Campus (Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Advocate), Report to RCMP, or Repeat Perpetrator Identification. Further information regarding REES can be found at: https://theu.ca/rees and https://stfx.reessecure.com/

Students wishing to seek academic accommodations in light of today’s release are asked to contact their professors or respective deans for support. If students require additional advocacy support regarding academic accommodation, please contact the Students’ Union at su_pres@stfx.ca.

Antigonish is also home to several community-based supports, including the Antigonish Women’s Centre and Naomi Society, which are available to students.

Antigonish Women’s Resource Centre & Sexual Assault Services Association
https://awrcsasa.ca/
P: 9028636500

Naomi Society: 
https://www.naomisociety.ca/
P: 9028633807

Students seeking assistance outside of office hours are encouraged to use resources available through HealthyMindsNS, including:

  • Good2Talk Phone (connect with a professional counsellor by calling 1-833-292-3698).

  • Good2Talk Text (contact a trained, volunteer crisis responder by texting GOOD2TALKNS to 686868.).

The StFX Students’ Union is committed to preventing and addressing sexualized violence in our community and will continue to push our University to foster a safe and supportive learning environment free from violence for all students.

StFX Students’ Union Executive Team

To the Campus Community: Statement Regarding Mark Mercer's Speaking Engagement at StFX University

In regards to Mark Mercer’s speaking engagement at StFX University

To our students,

We want to acknowledge the harm caused by this individual’s presence on campus and provide support to students impacted and affected. We stand with all of our members who were impacted negatively by this speakers presence on our campus. We hope that we can help support you and call the University to action.The Student’s Union does not condone any event that has a negative impact on our students, and we are saddened that it happened on our campus.

To our University Administration,

It has been documented that in the next strategic plan for STFX, the University aims to weave equity, diversity, and inclusion, (EDI) into the fabric of the strategic plan and, in turn, the fabric of this institution. This individual’s presence on our campus does not reflect an EDI approach to higher education. The Students’ Union asks the University how having a speaker like Mark Mercer on our campus lends itself to this direction of EDI values, and how they plan to address the negative impacts that this caused?

The Students’ Union asks on behalf of our affected members, that you clearly demonstrate your commitment to a welcoming and inclusive STFX. In reviewing past articles and comments that this speaker has made, how does this speaker represent the Xaverian Values that the University asks its students to represent when they first arrive on campus. Are these Xaverian Values also not the responsibility of the University staff and faculty as well?

Lastly, we wanted to ask the university, who was this presentation for?

To read about StFX’s commitment to EDI:

https://www.stfx.ca/about/news/Being-Xaverian

https://www.stfx.ca/about/news/respectful-communities

https://www.stfx.ca/about/news/Dimensions-Charter

https://www.stfx.ca/about-stfx/university-governance/strategic-plan-2017-22

Agenda | Students’ Union Annual General Meeting (AGM)

October 27th, 2022, 6:30 PM The McKay Room

  1. Call to order

  2. Roll Call

  3. Land Acknowledgement

  4. Opening Remarks of the Chair

  5. Approval of the Agenda

  6. Business Arising

  7. Special Reports:

    • Auditor’s report on Students’ Union Financial Statements 2021-2022

    • StFX Student Union By-law presentation

    • Annual Plan Presentation

  8. New Business:

    1. Appointment of the Auditor ‘Grant Thorton’ for the Student Union 2022-2023

      • Motion to approve the Financial Statements 2021-2022

      • Motion to approve the By-Laws as presented and replace the current By-Laws of the SU

      • Motion to approve The Annual Plan for 2022-2023

  9. St.FX’s Students’ Union President’s Report (Mr. Brendan Roberts)

  10. 10. Question Period

  11. Closing Remarks of the Chair

  12. Adjournment