Frequently Asked Questions

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (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.

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.
• 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.

Sexual assault is any type of unwanted sexual act done by one person to another that violates the sexual integrity of the survivor and involves a range of behaviours from any unwanted touching to penetration. Sexual assault may be carried out in circumstances in which a person has not freely agreed or consented to the sexual act, or in which a person is not able to consent (for example, if they are asleep, impaired, or the person initiating the sexual act is in a position of power or authority over them).

Sexual harassment is a course of unwanted remarks, behaviours, or communications that are sexual in nature, that promote gender-based violence, or that target someone’s gender or sexuality, where the person responsible for the remarks, behaviours or communications knows or ought reasonably to know that these are unwelcome. Sexual harassment may include unwanted attention of a sexually oriented nature such as personal questions about one’s sex life, persistent requests for a “date”, or unwelcome remarks about someone’s hair, body shape, etc. Sexual harassment may also include derogatory gender-based jokes or comments.

In the context of sexual violence, coercion is unreasonable and persistent pressure for sexual activity. Coercion is the use of emotional manipulation, blackmail, threats to family or friends, or the promise of rewards or special treatment, to persuade someone to engage in sexual acts.

A sexual assault evidence kit is a sealed box in which medical staff collect evidence from someone’s body and their clothing worn during or immediately after a sexual assault. This evidence is usually collected at a hospital or sexual assault care centre and can only be collected if the assault happened within the last 12 days. The sooner it is collected, the better the chance of finding evidence. This evidence would be used during a police investigation and/or legal process.

Stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of behaviours directed at a specific person that could cause fear. This may include: repeated, unwanted, intrusive, and frightening communications, following or waiting for the other person at one or various places, damaging or threatening to damage property, sending unsolicited gifts, and making threats of harm to the person or their friends and/or family. 

Human trafficking is when people are tricked, forced, or taken to different places so they can be used to make money: often through sex work or other labour they didn’t choose.

Traffickers (the people who do this) often:

• Use threats or violence to control their victims.
• Cause mental or emotional harm, like making people feel afraid or worthless.
• Manipulate victims by lying, making false promises, or taking advantage of their trust.

Victims may not be free to leave or say no, and traffickers make it very difficult for them to get help.

IPV is behaviour by an intimate partner or former intimate partner that causes physical, sexual or psychological harm, including physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse and controlling behaviours. IPV can happen in all forms of intimate relationships, e.g. heterosexual/queer, married/common law/dating.

The act of taking unfair sexual advantage of another person for one’s own benefit, personal gain or profit. It is the abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or abuse of trust for sexual purposes.

Observing a person for a sexual purpose, including by mechanical or electronic means, or making a visual recording of a person who is in circumstances that gives rise to a reasonable expectation of privacy (like in a washroom), without the person’s consent.

Some who have experienced sexual violence may choose to identify as a survivor. Individuals might be more familiar with the term “victim”. St. Lawrence College uses the term “survivor” throughout its SGBV Prevention Policy and this webpage, because some who have experienced sexual assault believe they have overcome the violent experience and do not wish to identify with the victimization. It is the prerogative of the person who has experienced these circumstances to determine how they wish to identify.

Refers to any member of the SLC community sharing information about an incident of SGBV. Survivors are encouraged to disclose to the Student Rights & Responsibilities Office, which provides information on options following a disclosure and coordinates supports, such as accommodations. A disclosure does not automatically initiate an investigation.

St. Lawrence College’s Campus Health Centre has clinics on all three campuses—Kingston, Brockville and Cornwall—staffed by nurses and consulting physicians. They provide a wide range of in-person and telemedicine services, including non-judgmental sexual health services, available to all St. Lawrence College students. More information can be found here. 

We believe that individuals who have experienced Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGVB) should be in control of whether, and how, their experience will be dealt with by the police and/or the College.

In most circumstances, the person who has experienced SGBV will retain this control. A person may choose to report their experience to the College, to the police, to both, or to neither. They may request that the College pursue an investigation, or they may only ask the College for support resources (they do not need to file a formal report with either the College or with the police to access support). If they request an investigation, they can choose their level of participation in that process. In most cases, the College will not pursue an investigation or notify the police unless requested to do so by the person who has experienced SGBV.

In certain circumstances the College may be required to initiate an internal investigation and/or inform the police of the need for a criminal investigation, even without the person’s consent, if the College believes that the safety of other members of the College community is at risk. The confidentiality and anonymity of the person(s) affected will be prioritized in these circumstances.

SGBV is experienced by people of all gender identities and sexual orientations. According to research, queer, transgender and gender diverse people in Canada are more likely to experience sexual violence than cisgender and heterosexual people (Government of Canada, 2024). St. Lawrence College does have some specific resources and initiatives for 2SLGBTQI+ students which can be found here. All students, no matter their sexuality or gender identity, can access student services and will be treated equitably and with respect. Student Rights & Responsibilities Office staff are available to answer any questions you may have.

Research has shown that while international students in Canada are at higher risk of gender-based violence than domestic students, they are less likely to report their experiences or seek support (Srinivasan et al., 2023). All students, no matter their citizenship or immigration status, can access student services and will be treated equitably and with respect. Making a report or disclosure of SGBV will not impact your immigration status or academic standing. Student Rights & Responsibilities Office staff and the International Student Office are available to answer any questions you may have.

Check out this page for more information about SGBV and international students. Please watch the video below to learn more about your rights as an International Student.

St. Lawrence College has a number of safety resources for students. We have a Safety and Security department who can be accessed 24/7 by dialing ext. 5555. Students can also access campus safety resources through the SLC Safe App. Further safety resources can be found here.