UBC student society reverses decision to cut services at Sexual Assault Support Centre
Posted June 26, 2018 5:17 pm.
Last Updated June 26, 2018 5:43 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The student society at the University of British Columbia is reversing a controversial decision after receiving backlash.
Less than a week after announcing it would be cutting support services at the student-run Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC), the Alma Mater Society (AMS) says it will not be going through with the plan.
AMS initially made the decision because support services are offered by UBC’s recently-created Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO), but it sparked concern from students that there wouldn’t be enough support for sexual assault victims.
In a statement, the student society apologizes for the harm it caused survivors, adding it made a mistake.
“Over the past few days we have seen, heard, and read your responses to the decision to transfer support services out of SASC. The AMS sincerely apologizes for the harm that this has caused survivors, those supporting them, and the rest of our community members. It was never our intention to do so, and we have heard your voices and we recognize that we made mistakes throughout this process. We will always stand by our membership and, as such, we are reversing our decision.
“The AMS took this decision with many considerations in mind and with concern about sustaining SASC’s operations and what the future of SASC will look like. Our actions have not reflected it, but each one of us genuinely had survivors and the support they receive at the forefront of our thoughts. This Executive team wanted to take responsibility and leadership to pave the way for a stronger SASC that is sustainable in its services and quality for the next year and beyond, with the many changes that have gone on over the past few years.”
AMS says there are still operational issues that need to be addressed and it will be working with SASC to ensure the highest quality of service is being provided.
SASC has not released a statement regarding the reversed decision.
