Statement

in response to the Press Release January 9, 2015

President Florizones measures

We need an external investigation of the Faculty of Dentistry.

Hundreds of members of the Dalhousie University community supported a call,
issued in December 2014, for an independent committee composed entirely of
external members to investigate, to consult with all relevant stakeholders, to issue a
public report, and to make recommendations to all appropriate institutions and
organizations. (http://bit.ly/1GyLFyL) The President has clearly listened and
responded, at least in part.

There is every reason to believe that Professor Backhouse will be an excellent chair.
She is internationally known for her feminist research and publications on sex
discrimination and the legal history of gender and race in Canada
(www.trudeaufoundation.ca). Her work profiles complex issues around women and
racialized communities. We trust that the Independent Task Force she chairs will
deliver: (1) a report that clearly explains what has happened with respect to the
specific incident and the culture in the Faculty of Dentistry and that makes
recommendations with respect to policies and practices: and (2) a report that can
facilitate meaningful longterm change within the University.

We support the independent investigation of the Faculty of Dentistry. However, we
have previously called for a broader investigation and so we will need and will take
more time to reflect upon the relationship between: (1) the Presidents Independent
Task Force; (2) the strategic initiative on diversity and inclusiveness to be led by
Dean Brooks; and (3) the Independent Committee of Inquiry motion on the agenda
for the University Senate meeting January 12, 2015 (Motion for an Independent
Committee of Inquiry on Gendered Violence and Related Forms of Discrimination on
Campus). This reflection will enable us to understand whether the institutions
responses are sufficient to address the systemic problems of misogyny and
gendered violence on our campuses.

The Restorative Justice Process continues.

We are concerned about what we have read this week with respect to whether the
choice made to participate in the restorative justice process was free and informed
for all of the students invited to participate. Four women students wrote: We feel
that the University is pressuring us into this process, silencing our views, isolating
us from our peers, and discouraging us from choosing to proceed formally; We
have not been provided with a full copy of the Facebook posts that affect us, despite
the fact that the men, and the media, have them; and not all of the women
affected have been properly informed.

Whether or not one agrees with the use of restorative justice in this situation,
nobody disputes that restorative justice requires free and informed consent. Steps
must be taken by the institution (through someone independent of the restorative
justice process initiated at Dalhousie) to ensure that consent of all participants is
free and informed.

We are also concerned that President Florizone characterized the participation in
the restorative justice process as a large majority. 26 of 47 fourthyear students
have agreed to participate (this is 55%).

The 13 Facebook members will no longer attend classes with the rest of their
classmates.

We do not understand what is meant by the statement that the Facebook group
members will not attend classes with the rest of their classmates. What is the
nature and scope of their exclusion? For example, will they be taking classes in the
same building? Will they be permitted in the libraries? These are locations central
to the learning environment.

Some remaining concerns

We are concerned that the University appears to have concluded that there were
exactly 13 members of the Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen. As noted by the 4 women
students, We are concerned that this lack of investigation and disclosure has led to
a failure to properly identify both those responsible for and those affected by this
conduct. Not all of the men involved have been identified to the University. What
steps will the University take to ensure that all men who were involved in the
Facebook group are identified and held accountable through the various
institutional processes?

We are concerned that no steps have been announced that address the protection of
the reputational and professional interests of the men in the fourthyear dentistry
class who were never members of the Facebook group.

We are concerned that Anne Forrestall, Vice Provost, Student Services has not yet
communicated her determination about whether the complaint has been properly
brought under the Code of Student Conduct. (email correspondence December 23,
2014) We submitted the Complaint on December 21, 2014 and we are still waiting.

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Franoise Baylis
Jocelyn Downie
Brian Noble
Jacqueline Warwick