The recent uproar over the Cornell gang rape case has reverberated globally, sparking a wave of support from the UBC community for Jane Doe and other survivors of sexual violence on campus.
On Thursday, a group of students marched through the UBC campus carrying signs that boldly proclaimed “We Are Jane Doe,” demanding stronger measures from the university to safeguard survivors.
Isabella Korkor, a student, emphasized the need for the university to play a more proactive role in supporting survivors and ensuring accountability for perpetrators. She noted, “Addressing issues like frat culture and individual behaviors is a broader societal challenge, but the university can certainly step up in providing better support for survivors and ensuring appropriate consequences for wrongdoers.”
The lawsuit filed by Jane Doe, a former Cornell University student, alleging a gang rape incident at a fraternity party in 2024 and criticizing Cornell’s response, has reignited discussions on how educational institutions and campus authorities address sexual violence.
Highlighting the universality of such issues, one student stressed, “It’s not just Cornell; UBC, along with universities worldwide, must also take responsibility and enhance their responses to such incidents.”
The UBC AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) has underscored the prevalence of violence on the UBC campus and the inadequacy of the current response mechanisms. Ophelia Kehila, the SASC manager, noted the reluctance of individuals to report incidents to the university due to the arduous reporting process and the limited justice outcomes achieved through such channels.
The SASC extends various forms of support to victims, assisting them in navigating the reporting procedures if they choose to do so. Despite 144 reports of sexual violence received by UBC between 2022 and 2025, only six cases resulted in suspensions, indicating a significant gap in achieving justice for survivors.
Kehila criticized the university’s policies as being more focused on shielding the institution itself rather than prioritizing the well-being of survivors. She emphasized, “The university, at its core, is an entity concerned with self-preservation, often prioritizing its own interests over those of survivors.”
In response to these concerns, UBC stated that it treats all allegations of sexual misconduct with gravity and follows its policies to investigate reports diligently. The university encourages individuals to reach out to the UBC Investigations Office for confidential guidance on the reporting process.
