Dozens of people marched across the University of British Columbia campus on Thursday with signs urging stronger protections for survivors as a Cornell lawsuit alleging gang rape proceeds.
The Story
Dozens of people marched across the University of British Columbia campus on Thursday holding signs that read “We Are Jane Doe,” calling on the university to do more to protect survivors of sexual violence.
The Cornell case at the centre of the attention involves a former Cornell University student, known only as Jane Doe, who filed a lawsuit last month alleging she was gang-raped at a frat party in 2024 and that Cornell failed to protect her.
UBC student Isabella Korkor said the university may not be able to directly address “frat culture” as individuals, but she said UBC “can definitely take more initiative in properly supporting survivors and making sure those that did the action are punished.”
Korkor also said accountability should extend beyond Cornell, adding, “It’s not just Cornell, right? UBC needs to take accountability, as well as every other university in the world.”
The UBC AMS Sexual Assault Support Centre (SASC) said violence remains prevalent at UBC and that the current response is not sufficient. SASC manager Ophelia Kehila said people may be afraid to report because of the “gruelling process of investigation” and the “very minimal outcomes” she said follow reports, adding that “very few people end up receiving justice through the university.”
Kehila said the SASC offers supports to victims and helps them navigate the reporting process, should they choose to report. She also cited the centre’s information that UBC received 144 reports of sexual violence between 2022 and 2025, with only six resulting in suspensions.
Kehila said, “At the end of the day, the university is an institution and a corporation, and their main priority is to protect itself,” and she said many policies are criticized for being liability-oriented and centred on protecting the institution rather than survivors.
In a statement, UBC said it takes all allegations of sexual misconduct seriously and investigates reports in accordance with its policies. The statement also said people who want to report violence can contact the UBC Investigations Office, which offers confidential, no-obligation advice about reporting processes.
← More stories