Student sexually assaulted on University of Saskatchewan campus

The University of Saskatchewan is reporting a sexual assault on its campus this week.

Vice Provost Patti McDougall said it happened between 4:30 and 5 a.m. Thursday morning near Saskatchewan Hall, one of the universities residences.

“Everyone involved is known to the university and they’re all students,” she told 650 CKOM Friday.

Few other details are being released because of privacy reasons, but it comes at a time when the university is working hard to raise awareness of sexual assault.

“The majority of sexual assaults on campuses take place in the first eight weeks of the academic year,” McDougall said. “So that’s the time of year that we tend to focus on in regards to building awareness.”

September 26th kicks off the annual sexual assault awareness week at the U of S.

Faculty and student leaders create events to help educate people on things they’ve identified as important issues including consent, safety, and alcohol.

Renata Huyghebaert, Vice President of Student Affairs with the Student Union, said “we believe in the importance of sexual assault awareness,.”

“We do many things to address a call to change on campus and educate students, staff, and the community about assault,” she said.

When asked how sexual assaults affect the university, Huyghebaert said “we need to realize that this is something that affects not just the individuals it affects the community.”

“If one person in the community is hurting the entire community hurts.”

With files from JT Marshall