Stanford sexual assault case highlights need for 'systemic' change says Regina prof

The topic of sex assaults on college campuses is at the top of mind for many people following the sentence of formerStanford University swimmerBrockTurner. The 20-year-old was recently given a six-monthsentence for the sexual assault of an unconscious 23-year-old woman at a frat party.

The Man Up Against Violence program, which started at the University of Regina, is aimed at preventing assaults with the help of leadership from men on campus.

Man Up describes itself as aninitiative that "challenges mind-sets and behaviours with regard to the social construction of masculinity and its relationship with violence."

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"Many times the messages that we send to young men and boys are unhealthy," said Roz Kelsey,a Kinesiologyand Health Studiesprofessor at the University of Regina and the chair ofMan Up Against Violencecampaign.

Kelsey said those messages can lead to violence, particularly againstwomen.

She addedmany of the problems stemming from the Turner case are systemic and have to do with the way society is constructed to reinforce gender inequality.

"What kind of characteristicsdo we attribute to power and strength and importance. And those are all reinforced by the system we create. And it's not common conversation," Kelsey said.

Man Up receives $100,000

In 2015, the University of Regina developed its own sexual assault and violence policy. The school recently gaveMan Up Against Violence $100,000 in funding.

Kelsey said the money will be used to launcha landmark violence prevention programin October 2016.

"The objective is to create a comprehensive prevention and action plan that will stand as thefoundation for a national strategy on university campus safety."

Turner receives six-month sentence

Turner, formerly an Olympic swimming hopeful, wasconvicted of assault with intent to commit rape of an intoxicated victim and two charges of digitally penetrating an unconscious and intoxicated victim. He had initially been charged with rape of the 23-year-old woman, but thosecharges weredropped.

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"The light sentence in the Brock Turner case is problematic for several reasons, but at least in part because it emboldens those of privilege or an athletic background," said DanielleDe Smeth,a California-based criminal attorney.

BaylorUniversity also facing asexual assault scandal

Last month, Baylor University President Ken Starr was stripped of his title and head football coach Art Briles wasfired after a review of how the school handled various allegations of sexual assault by football players.

Two players have been convicted of sexual assaults. One player, Tevin Elliott, received a 20-year prison sentence.

• Celebrated Baylor football coach Briles fired after sex assault accusations, convictions of players

An independent review determined both football staff and school leadership "in some instances, posed a risk to campus safety and the integrity of the university."

Issue not an American one

But Canadian universities have also had their share of recent scandals. The Fifth Estate featured problems at UBC, where it took officials a year and a half to act on sexual assault allegations against a grad student oncampus.

• UBC announces new committee to develop sex assault policy
• Schools reporting zero sexual assaults on campus not reflecting reality, critics, students say

Brandon University came under fire in April when students criticized a school policy that required victims of sexual assault to sign a behavioural contract that requires them not to speak about an assaultexcept to counselors. The school has sinceestablished a sexual assault response and prevention team.

• Brandon University sexual assault victims forced to sign contract that keeps them silent
• Brandon University appoints full-time sexual violence therapist, coordinator