'It's long overdue': Mixed feelings towards gender based and sexual violence training at Western U

In response to increased concerns about student safety, Western University is making it mandatory for students in residence to complete training in understand and preventing sexual violence. This comes after numerous allegations of sexual assault surfaced in the fall of 2021.

In response to increased concerns about student safety, Western University is making it mandatory for students in residence to complete training in understand and preventing sexual violence. This comes after numerous allegations of sexual assault surfaced in the fall of 2021.

AnnaLise Trudell is the manager of education, training and research at Anova, a gender-based violence agency in London, Ont. that supports victims of sexual violence. Trudell says there’s been mixed feedback about the training from students, which began in January.

“Survivors, they feel seen in this, they feel like it’s been given an important space that’s long overdue,” she said. “Others are pushing back, saying this is not the right approach.”

Students in residence are currently undergoing gender-based and sexual violence training which consists of online modules as well as in-person group sessions.

The program is intended to focus on preventing violence in the first place and supporting survivors who have experienced it.

“The training is really, intentionally causing discomfort because we’re intentionally challenging values. What will not work to prevent sexual violence is to make everyone comfortable because we’re never going to change behaviour in that,” Trudell said.

Trudell explained the training brings forward difficult conversations and provide tools on how to handle these scenarios in the future.