THUNDER BAY -- The survivor of a bizarre assault on the Lakehead University campus is outraged at the response from school officials in the aftermath of the attack.
The woman, in a letter sent to local media outlets, said she’s appalled university officials turned to the media without her permission, adding she’s been subjected to ridicule since telling the school about the Nov. 22 incident in which a man video-recorded the woman in a Lakehead library bathroom using his cell phone.
“Lakehead did not ask for my consent in releasing information, they did not ask whether I would like them speaking on my behalf, nor did they offer emotional or academic support. I have been struggling to attend my classes, due to heightened anxiety and very little sleep following the assault,” said the woman.
It’s the policy of tbnewswatch.com not to name victims of sexual assault.
The 19-year-old victim said it took school officials six days to reach out to her and discuss the incident, which was eerily similar to another that took place in October, which the university did not learn about until after the November assault took place.
She said she was invited alone to the meeting, but brought a friend and the co-ordinator of the school’s Gender Issues Centre for moral support.
It did not go well, she said.
“During this meeting, I had to retell my assault and I was appalled at the treatment I received. Not only was the severity of this incident downplayed, but due to the article posted by the (newspaper) and the contradictions and assumptions made about my assault, I found that the legitimacy of my claims were questioned,” she said, adding she felt re-victimized and has less trust in the university.
The woman went on to say the school told her it was being cautious about what information was released because university officials didn’t want others coming forward and “crying wolf.”
“I hope that Lakehead University can take a survivor-centered approach in every sexual assault case, and that these words are never repeated to a victim of sexual assault again.”
The victim said the delay in reaching out to her is essentially writing off her account of the story, something she cannot accept.
“The indifference towards my experience from Lakehead University has been just as demeaning as the assault itself,” she said.
“To remedy the situation, I hope to receive an apology from Lakehead University, because though this is a learning curve for Lakehead faculty, the burden of their mistakes is a weight I have to carry.”
University president Brian Stevenson on Wednesday held a news conference to answer questions about the assault.
Thunder Bay police also weighed in, providing a description of the suspect in question.
“The suspect is described as a male with medium skin complexion who is between 5-foot-6 and 5-foot-9 with a thin to medium build,” police spokeswoman Julie Tilbury said in a media release issued on Wednesday afternoon.
Police, as well as university officials, encourage students who have experienced a similar incident or might know the identity of the suspect to contact police.
