For many U of T students, frosh week is a positive experience filled with enjoyable activites and exciting new friendships. For others, however, it can be a time of vulnerability and potentially dangerous encounters.
U of T student Sandro Pehar is one of the unfortunate victims of frosh crime. Last year, he had $1,200 of camera equipment stolen while he attended a college cheer-off. At that same event, two girls reported missing wallets. Although Pehar filed a report, he could not afford to pursue legal action and risk his studies, an obstacle faced by many students.
St. George Campus Police states that during frosh week, they receive reports of disturbances of the peace, harassments, and assaults. These include unfriendly cheers that encourage exclusion, incidents resulting from substance abuse, vandalism of property, and unwanted physical and/or sexual contact.
Campus Police did report that this year’s frosh week was safer than those of previous years. However, Campus Police also recognized that the statistics may be conservative as students may not choose to report incidents.
Sam D’Angelo, Campus Police Operations Manager, said that it is important to encourage students to be safe when they attend club nights or bars, to never go out alone, and to be aware of their environment at all times. Women in particular need to be cautious: they must not leave their drinks unattended and need to know that it is possible to report unwanted contact.
Albi Aziz, VP of Campus Life for UTSU, highlighted the “No Means No” campaign, which is designed to “raise awareness about sexual consent … [in order to] make sure that students know where to get information and help.” Nevertheless, crimes against persons occur throughout the school year and are not restricted to frosh events.
D’Angelo stressed how important it is that students remember the support systems in place at the university, which provide students with security and safety options. For example, U of T’s Community Safety Office works in conjunction with Campus Police to provide further support for safety planning. Victims of sexual and physical assault should note that it is acceptable to disclose their experiences and seek help. In addition, witnesses to such activity should provide support to those in need and encourage victims to speak up and trust the police.
Aziz stresses that “the safety of students [during orientation week] is [a] top priority” and is essential in to ensure that the overall experience is positive and inclusive. Groups that organize frosh activities also arrange “transportation to and from events, [provide] anti-harassment advisors at club nights and [ensure] that all orientation leaders receive equity training.”
Feedback suggests that substance abuse is a prime factor contributing to frosh disturbances. Consequently, Campus Police conducts RIDE (Reduced Impaired Driving Everywhere) spot checks on campus, noting that people are “[three] times more likely to be killed by an impaired driver” than to be murdered.
Students across U of T’s three campuses feel that frosh week is a positive experience that develops school spirit and a sense of belonging at U of T. That privilege, however, comes with a responsibility to respect the property and wishes of fellow peers.
