Brock University is dedicated to providing an inclusive and respectful environment for its students, staff, faculty, and visitors. As part of this commitment, Brock has various policies in place to address and combat racism and hate.
What are the relevant policies and who do they apply to?
Brock’s Student Code of Conduct sets out standards that Brock students are required to comply with in order to promote and maintain respect for all members of the university community. The Student Code of Conduct prohibits various forms of harmful conduct, including harassment (section 6.1), infliction of harm (section 6.2), and threatening behaviour (section 6.3). The Code of Conduct sets out processes for addressing student misconduct and provides for various outcomes for students who are found responsible for violating the Code.
The Employee Code of Conduct applies to all Brock employees and commits Brock employees to act respectfully, with integrity, and to refrain from engaging in or accepting from others any form of abuse and harassment (section 2). The Code also requires employees to comply with all applicable laws and University policies (section 7). The Code of Conduct is enforced in accordance with existing processes, policies, and collective agreements.
The Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy reflects the University’s commitment to providing an environment that values diversity and inclusion, fosters respect and does not tolerate prejudice, discrimination, or harassment. The policy applies to all Brock students, staff, faculty, volunteers, and visitors to Brock (including guest speakers) and prohibits any form of discrimination or harassment, whether it occurs on University property or in conjunction with University-related activities (section 2). The policy, and its associated procedures, provide mechanisms to combat racism and hate within the university environment, including a commitment to acting promptly and efficiently to deal with any harassing or discriminatory behaviour and includes proactive mechanisms to support an inclusive and respectful environment, such as training and awareness programs and climate reviews. The associated procedures include a detailed outline of the complaints mechanism, including how to file a complaint, how complaints are assessed and investigated, interim measures, outcomes, and appeals.
In addition, Campus Safety Services (CSS) provides vital services to preserve the peace and safety of the campus community. As part of this responsibility, CSS works with the relevant policing authorities to support investigations into any alleged hate-motivated crimes that may occur on property owned or operated by Brock University.
What can you do if you think you’ve experienced racism or hate at Brock?
The University encourages any individual who has experienced racism or hate to disclose it to the relevant University unit so that the University can ensure it is appropriately addressed. As soon as possible after the incident, you should document it (e.g. create a written record setting out detailed information about the incident, including date, time, and location, names of individuals or witnesses involved, and what occurred). Depending on what you experienced, you should contact the following areas:
The Criminal Code of Canada includes three offences that specifically pertain to hate: (1) section 318 – Advocating Genocide; (2) section 319 (1) – Public Incitement of Hatred; and (3) section 319 (2) – Wilful Promotion of Hatred. Police may also lay a hate-motivated criminal charge when a criminal offence has occurred and hate motivated the offence. If you feel that you’ve experienced or witnessed an offence of this nature at Brock, you should report it to Campus Safety Services who will connect with the relevant policing authorities as necessary .
Under the Respectful Work and Learning Environment Policy (and consistent with the Ontario Human Rights Code), discrimination is defined as differential treatment of an individual or group which is based on a personal characteristic of that individual or group and which has an adverse impact on them. Harassment is a course of vexatious comment or conduct that is known or ought reasonably to be known to be unwelcome. Single acts of sufficient severity may also constitute harassment. If you think you’ve experienced harassment or discrimination, you can reach out to Human Rights and Equity (a simple online contact form is available or you can email [email protected]). A Human Rights and Equity team member will contact you to discuss your concerns and go through your options, which may include providing you with strategies to resolve your concerns directly with the individual(s), engaging in an alternative dispute resolution process, or filing a formal complaint to commence an investigation.
Where the conduct may not rise to the level of a hate crime or harassment or discrimination, but is still disrespectful, hateful or racist, you have the option to contact Student Affairs (for students), People & Culture (for staff), Faculty Relations (for faculty), or Campus Safety Services (for visitors).
