After 11 years of bringing you local reporting, the team behind the Vancouver Observer has moved on to Canada's National Observer. You can follow Vancouver culture reporting over there from now on. Thank you for all your support over the years!

UBC alumna files human rights complaint over response to sex assault reports

Glynnis Kirchmeier filed a human rights complaints against UBC
Former UBC student, Glynnis Kirchmeier, filed a human rights complaint over sex assault reports. Photo by The Canadian Press.

VANCOUVER — A former University of British Columbia student has filed a human rights complaint alleging the school discriminated against her and other complainants in its handling of sexual assault reports.

Glynnis Kirchmeier says the university failed to act on complaints about a male PhD student over long periods of time, resulting in additional women becoming the victims of sexual violence.

Kirchmeier says the complaint was filed with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal as both an individual and representative complaint on behalf of other women affected by sexual violence on campus.

UBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but after Kirchmeier and other women came forward in November the school pledged to create a stand-alone sexual assault policy.

Kirchmeier says she wants the new policy to address the problems that arose in the case of the male PhD student, who was expelled in November.

Her human rights complaint alleges that the university was first alerted to aggressive behaviour by the student in 2012 and its failure to act created an unsafe environment for students.

More in Education

A young Iranian helps Syrian refugees adjust to Canada

A young Iranian, himself, new to Canada reaches out to help Syrian refugees settle here. But with the war in Syria, tensions between Iranians and Syrians are rising. How will he succeed?
Arvind Gupta, former president of UBC

UBC faculty vote no confidence in board over handling of president's resignation

VANCOUVER — The University of British Columbia's faculty association has passed a resolution of non-confidence in the institution's board of governors amid ongoing turmoil prompted by the abrupt...

How to parent in a digital world

How should we prepare our kids for an online world? That’s the question I’ll help families address in my March 4th workshop for Hollyhock Vancouver on How to Parent in a Digital World, and it’s a...
Speak up about this article on Facebook or Twitter. Do this by liking Vancouver Observer on Facebook or following us @Vanobserver on Twitter. We'd love to hear from you.