Indigenous St. Lawrence College is committed to fostering a safe living, learning and working environment for all College community members, free from all forms of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).
One of the ways St. Lawrence College supports a safe, respectful and inclusive community for our students, staff and faculty is through the SGBV Prevention Policy.
The SGBV Prevention Policy, which applies to all current members of the College community and all College-related activities:
- Prohibits all forms of SGBV,
- Establishes procedures for the College to promptly respond to reports and disclosures of SGBV in a fair, trauma-informed way,
- Ensures that those impacted by SGBV are believed and appropriately supported or accommodated, and
- Establishes a process for the College to investigate incidents of SGBV that protects the rights, privacy and dignity of the individuals involved, and holds individuals responsible for SGBV accountable.
Please explore this webpage for more information about SGBV, the SGBV Prevention Policy, and where to seek support.
A Note from our President & CEO
St. Lawrence College values respect for all individuals, civility, diversity, dignity, equality, and freedom, and is committed to maintaining a healthy and safe learning, living, social, recreational and working environment. We are also committed to maintaining a campus free of discrimination and harassment, and strive to foster an atmosphere of healthy attitudes and behaviours towards sexuality, sex and gender roles. Behaviour that contributes to a hostile and inequitable learning and working environment will not be tolerated by the College. Our commitment to supporting those who experience sexual violence is taken very seriously, and we work diligently on campus and with community partners on programs, policies and resources to ensure that our campus remains free from sexual violence.
I urge all members of the College community to review the Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Prevention Policy and explore this webpage to learn about options and resources available to those who require support, or who wish to support others. We all need to work together to ensure that the College remains a safe and positive space where members of the College community feel able to work, learn and express themselves in a safe and equitable environment.
Glenn Vollebregt
President & CEO
Support & Resources
SOME IMPORTANT Terms
Consent means that both people clearly say yes to the sexual activity. Consent must be:
- Clear: People use words that show they want to take part.
- Ongoing: Saying yes once doesn’t mean yes forever – both people need to consent each time.
- Informed: People understand what they are agreeing to.
- Voluntary: No one should feel pressured, forced, or tricked.
Both people must agree to the same activity, and they must express this agreement in a way that the other person can understand.
Some important things to note about consent:
- Consent cannot be given by someone who is incapacitated (such as by drugs or alcohol), unconscious, or otherwise unable to understand and voluntarily give consent.
- Silence or non-communication must never be interpreted as consent.
- The fact that consent was given in the past does not mean that the person is consenting now.
- A person can withdraw consent at any time during the course of a sexual encounter.
- A person is incapable of giving consent to a person in a position of trust, power or authority over them (such as their teacher or their employer).
Please watch the video below to learn about a compassionate, empathy-based approach to consent.
SGBV means any action, sexual or not, that harms someone because of their sexuality, gender identity, or the way they express their gender. It can be physical (like sexual activity without consent) or psychological (like threats or harassment).
Some examples of SGBV are:
- Sexual assault: Unwanted touching or sexual activity.
- Sexual harassment: Inappropriate, unwanted sexual comments, jokes or advances.
- Stalking: Repeated unwanted contact that makes someone feel unsafe.
- Indecent exposure: Showing private body parts in public.
- Voyeurism: Secretly watching someone who expects privacy.
- Sexual exploitation: Taking advantage of someone sexually, often for money or power.
Please watch the video below to hear SLC students speak about sexual violence.
For more, see our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Questions? Contact the Student Rights & Responsibilities Office: SRRO@sl.on.ca.