McMaster students, faculty question 'abrupt' changes of key staff at sexual violence office on campus

Students at McMaster University in Hamilton are questioning the institution's commitment to the prevention of sexual violence after staffing changes at the office responsible for that work on campus. 

Several people spoke out at a rally organized by Students Against Austerity at McMaster about the "abrupt" dismissal of two of the three staff members at the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO), including the office's director, on the same day in late January.

Dozens protested in front of Gilmour Hall on Wednesday. The SVPRO supports students, staff and faculty with response services, education and prevention of sexual assault.

"We want to know: how is the university's commitment to sexual violence prevention and response unwavering … when they can suddenly restructure and violently dismantle these essential services?" Naia Lee, an organizer with Students Against Austerity, told the rally.

Protesters cheered speakers during the cold and windy winter afternoon. Organizers led the crowd, chanting, "McMaster, you can't hide."

"[SVPRO] is extremely essential," labour studies student Sarah Ali told CBC Hamilton at the rally.

"They not only provide services after the fact that someone has experienced [sexual violence], but they provide prevention measures, harm reduction measures that are crucial to teaching people."

McMaster says support still offered

The two staff members impacted by the changes are Lenore Lukasik-Foss, who was director of the SVPRO, and Wil Prakash Fujarczuk, who managed sexual violence prevention education at the office.

Both their McMaster emails automatically respond, saying they no longer work at the university. CBC Hamilton reached out to ask about the nature of their terminations, but both declined to comment. 

As well as Students Against Austerity, speakers on Wednesday included people from the Pride Community Centre and university staff and professors. 

The university said in a statement on Wednesday that it "is currently implementing some changes" at the office and "staffing changes are part of advancing the way that sexual and gender-based violence supports, advice and education are provided across the university," but did not mention Lukasik-Foss or Fujarczuk.

McMaster also said "additional staffing is being planned to support the work of SVPRO and revised positions will be posted shortly." SVPRO continues to offer supports and programs, such as consent training, it said, "through a combination of internal experts and external partnerships."

CBC Hamilton reached out directly to the university with further questions but were referred to the Feb. 12 statement.

Terminations were 'shocking': professor

Stacey Ritz, a professor in the department of pathology and molecular medicine, said hearing the news of the terminations was "shocking."

"Both of the staff members were people who were very well known in the McMaster community for being really tireless advocates and champions around tackling the problem of sexual and gender-based violence on campus," she said in an interview.

Ritz said she heard about the terminations of Lukasik-Foss and Fujarczuk in late January through word of mouth, three weeks before the university released its statement Feb. 12.

"The disappearance of these positions means that a lot of the advocacy work, and education and training work that had been done by professionals with depth of expertise in the university is now left to student groups to pick up the slack," said Ritz.

She said while Lukasik-Foss's and Fujarczuk's work meant a lot to students, faculty and staff also relied on them for their "support and expertise" when helping students experiencing or recovering from sexual violence.

Ritz was also an attendant at Wednesday's rally, where students were asking for more transparency from the university about the decision.

She was also one of several people who spoke about the changes to SVPRO at the university's senate meeting on Wednesday evening that was moved online earlier that day due to weather. 

Petition garners around 500 signatures

Ali said she wants McMaster to detail what its plan was in terminating Lukasik-Foss and Fujarczu.

"When it comes to accessing mental health services, it's crucial to let the people who are accessing these services know [about changes] beforehand," Ali said.

She said many of her friends have relied on the services and the community building Lukasik-Foss and Fujarczu have built over their time at the school. Now Ali is left with many questions for the university.

"[These changes] leave people in the dark of like, is it going to be the same? Is there going to be similar staff? Is there going to be similar methods? Because for a lot of victims, it's found that when it comes to trusting someone you're accessing care from, you need to build up that relationship over time."

Students Against Austerity started an open letter and a petition asking the university for transparency.

Demands in the letter include an explanation of why Lukasik-Foss and Fujarczu were dismissed, and commitment to consultations with students regarding the restructuring of SVPRO.

The letter has been signed by around 500 McMaster students, faculty, staff and community members, according to the group.

If you're in immediate danger or fear for your safety or that of others around you, please call 911. For support in your area, you can look for crisis lines and local services via the Ending Violence Association of Canada database. ​