\ ews Orientation or Exploitation: Sexual Misconduct at SMU Nicole Halseth News Editor Fe Week’ at UNBC and across the country is coming to an end, some with more of a bang than others. Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, is coming under fire this week following the release of a student chant posted on Instagram. The chant is as follows: "YOUNG - “Y is for your sister ... U is for underage, N is for no consent ... Saint Mary's boys we university-canada.net like them young.” The backlash surrounding this cheer, led by student orientation leaders during the University’s Frosh Week events, is largely centered on the fact that it seems fo promote sexist values and rape culture. Darrell Dexter, the premier of Nova Scotia, has responded to the event by stating that he found the cheer “disturbing.” Colin Dodds, Saint Mary's president, also responded that he was shocked by the cheer and gave an official apology. In a statement, Dodds acknowledged that he and the university administration had failed to “oversee and guide student leaders.” This cheer is only the latest in sensitive issues focused in the Atlantic provinces, after Rehtaeh Parsons committed suicide earlier in the year. This reportedly came about after the 17-year-old was sexually assaulted in 2011 at a party by several young men. The provincial and local response to the sensitive situation has been rapid. An ad campaign geared towards educating young men about consensual sex was undertaken by the province as a result of Parson's suicide. Saint Mary's has also requested that eighty students involved in the event be required to participate in a sensitivity seminar before next month. Further disciplinary action may be pursued, These efforts towards educating youth on matters of consensual sex are a positive first step. However, according to Nova Scotia's minister on the status 3 of women, Marilyn More, it will take time to change attitudes concerning sexual behavior. Ina statement, More explained that she, foo, was dismayed by the cheer and believed “these are certainly young people that we would have thought had given more appropriate thought to the whole issue of sexual violence.” Premier Dexter also responded to this effect, by stating that he “felt bad for them as well, because | think if they had sat for a second and thought about it, they wouldn't have engaged in that kind of behaviour, particularly in this province, it is a very, very sensitive thing.” It is time to think. Following the orginal events, Vice President of Student Life at SMU has resigned due to her lack of involvement in the orientation she was tasked with surpervising. Legal action has also has been filed against two students who were explicitly involved in the Frosh Week misconduct. Smooth Justice: Prince George forces to Combat Crime Nicole Halseth News Editor fter four months of preparation, the push against crime in Prince George is steadily developing . In January, Mayor Shari Green commissioned the creation of a task force aimed at addressing local crime, with a focus on improving crime reduction strategies and public safety. As part of this initiative, members of the task force committee will be meeting with community groups and members throughout the month of September. This is in an attempt to acquire and review feedback for their draft of recommendations, which is up for presentation to the city council. Since January, this committee has been reviewing the example set by the award-winning crime-reduction model used in Surrey, BC. This, coupled with an extensive study of existing local initiatives and services, has led to the formation of this current list of recommendations. There are currently seven recommendations, broadly falling under four categories, which are up for review before the draft is finalized. These categories are: prevention and deterrence, apprehension and prosecution, rehabilitation and reintegration, and measuring perception and reality of crime. Under the category of prevention and deterrence, one plan is fo create a program intended to pull together existing services to help youth classified as ‘high-risk,’ as well as implementing CUPE BC's City Watch program. City Watch is a pre-existing union-led campaign which aims to encourage cooperation between employees in the community, police, and government, in regards to observing and reporting suspicious behavior. A strategy for apprehension and prosecution involving the RCMP mapping high crime areas within Prince George using GIS technology. This is geared at improving distribution of police and emergency services. Under rehabilitation and reintegration, one proposal is fo partner with community groups that offer services for offenders and create a graffiti reporting and removal program. One recommendation for the category of measurement and perception is to undertake a comprehensive survey of Prince George residents, in order to assess their perceptions and experiences regarding their personal safety. This would be the first survey of its kind undertaken in Prince George since 1999, when a UNBC survey was commissioned by the Institute for Social Research and Evaluation. While it is hoped that these ideas will improve the crime situation in Prince George within the next few decades, Mayor Green recognizes that crime reduction goes above and beyond their limited scope and time frame. In a statement, Green stated that "you're never going to have 100 per cent crime-free community... | think it's always going to be something you have an ongoing challenge with.” She is also cautioning against false expectations of the committee's suggestions. However, the impacts of these steps against crime will be felt throughout the community. Anyone who lives within Prince George, including students at UNBC, will be subject fo the evolving results of this initiative in the next few years. It remains to be seen just how these ideas will affect the community, but through the current process of revision and collaboration, it is hopeful that they will become as comprehensive and effective as possible. Following this process, the final set of recommendations will be put to the city council for consideration on October 28th, 2013.