McMaster won’t talk about its psychology, neuroscience and behaviour department

McMaster University is distancing itself from a back-to-school message sent by the head of embattled Department of Psychology, Neuroscience and Behaviour (PNB).

The email, sent late Tuesday to PNB graduate students, staff and faculty from new department chair Mel Rutherford, was about the department's sexual violence crisis and how it plans to respond this year.

Rutherford forwarded the message to The Spectator on Tuesday following a days-earlier request for an interview about student safety. He said he had his dean's permission to share the message.

Anyone who comes forward with a complaint of sexual violence, discrimination or harassment should be met with compassion, listened to earnestly, and provided with accurate information about their options," Rutherford said in the lengthy message. I understand the gravity of this obligation in the context of a world where, historically, complainants have not always been taken seriously."

He went on to say that no faculty members within the department under investigation were ever suspended," a term the university has used in public statements - one that Rutherford said implies guilt." Rather, they were on non-disciplinary administrative leaves."

He also pointed out that six of seven people investigated as a result of sexual violence/discrimination and harassment complaints were cleared of violating any university policies. The Spectator has confirmed there was a policy violation finding in the case of professor Scott Watter, who Rutherford did not name, but who has been charged with two counts of sexual assault. Watter has pleaded not guilty to the criminal charges and his trial is slated for November.

The Spectator ran the statement by Miranda Jurilj, a public education co-ordinator with SACHA, Hamilton's sexual assault centre. She had concerns the language was dismissive of sexual assault survivors' experiences.

Focusing on (people not violating policies) is actually really harmful because the reality is, regardless of those policies ... survivors are saying that harm has been caused," said Jurilj. That's got to be made the priority and that's got to be taken seriously."

Asked to respond to SACHA's criticism about Rutherford's message, the university issued a statement to The Spec late Friday afternoon.

The message (from Rutherford) is not aligned with the university's values or its commitment to working with survivors and consulting and engaging people across PNB to build an inclusive and safe environment for everyone within the department," said spokesperson Wade Hemsworth.

Asked if the university had not wanted the message shared - Rutherford told The Spec Wednesday McMaster would send follow up communication in lieu" of his message - Hemsworth said: Since the allegations first arose in PNB, the university has been responding to any media requests and this is how the university wishes to continue."

This all comes in the wake of The Spectator's attempts to get accountability from McMaster on how it plans to keep PNB students safe this year.

For a year and a half, The Spectator has been investigating allegations of misconduct, sexual harassment and sexual assault within the PNB department. During that time, we reported: a professor was arrested and charged with sexual assault and sexual assault causing bodily harm; a staff member was arrested and charged with sexual assault (both cases are still before the courts); a student launched a civil lawsuit against the university alleging professors sexually assaulted and harassed her (which has since been dismissed on consent); and a department climate review revealed systemic issues that let inappropriate behaviours go unchecked."

Many of these revelations came to light through our reporting.

We asked weeks ago for an interview with McMaster president David Farrar, then more recently with Rutherford or anyone who could speak to student safety. All requests were denied.

The university responded by email instead.

McMaster remains deeply committed to providing a healthy and safe environment for our students, faculty and staff," the university said in a statement. Our work has continued throughout the spring and summer to gain a full understanding of the complex needs of our stakeholders and provide support where needed."

As for how McMaster handles sexual violence specifically, no policy violation does not mean none of a complainant's claims were substantiated." In fact, The Spectator has confirmed that in at least one PNB case, a complainant's allegations were substantiated but the university deemed the respondent did not violate university policy. McMaster makes decisions on cases based on a balance of probabilities, the same burden of proof used in civil cases. Even when allegations are not substantiated" that specifically means they couldn't be proven based on the evidence brought forward in the case, including that provided by both the complainant and the respondent," the university has previously told The Spec.

Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com