WATCH: Global News dives into the details of the restorative justice report that uncovers some unsettling details about the sexist and misogynistic culture of the dentistry school. Julia Wong reports.
HALIFAX – Faculty were aware of a student lounge in the Dalhousie dentistry building that contained offensive graffiti, according to the restorative justice report released by the university.
Mention of the Cavity, which was released last Friday, was buried in the report; it sits 49 pages into the 72-page document.
“The student lounge is where investigators found the writing on the wall – literally,” the report states. “Discovering ‘the Cavity’ was a significant development in the investigation related to culture and climate.”
It describes the room as being covered “wall to wall, floor to ceiling with graffiti – including that which would fall into the categories of misogynistic, racist, sexist, and homophobic.”
The report finds that the graffiti was not a secret, noting that some students and even faculty describe signing the wall as a “rite of passage”.
“Much of the offending content was in plain view from the student lounge,” it reads.
However, it was only after the restorative justice process began that the space was painted over.
Students at Dalhousie University who were not aware of the Cavity tell Global News they are not impressed.
“It makes me uncomfortable and I’m not even involved in that faculty so I think that’s really disappointing,” said fourth-year student Stephanie Legere.
“I feel like in a university, this is a professional environment. We don’t want to have that sort of thing in a professional environment,” said third-year student Jessi Bak.
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Unfortunately the report states that “sexism, homophobia and racism are deeply rooted issues affecting the Faculty” and “the Facebook posts speak to a part of the culture at the Faculty in the profession”.
Dalhousie administration did not respond to repeated requests for comment about the Cavity. They also did not respond to inquiries about whether any faculty will face repercussions as a result of the scandal and its subsequent investigation into the issues at the dentistry school.
The restorative justice report also cites an event called The Roast, which is student-run and “is an opportunity to students to humiliate and demean each other”.
The report finds partners and spouses were not permitted to attend the event because “in past years relationships were destroyed by the “jokes” and revelations”.
It said the Dean of Dentistry, Dr. Tom Boran, even intervened last year in the event and faculty administration expressed concern to student organizers, thereby showing there was higher-up knowledge about the nature of the event yet nothing was done. The Roast was cancelled this year due to the Facebook scandal.
Professional code of conduct
The report finds that some female students felt some faculty members made them feel uncomfortable, including making sexually inappropriate jokes.
David Mensink, the president of the Dalhousie Faculty Association, said there is a professional expectation for faculty and staff to carry themselves with “the utmost respect, dignity and integrity in all cases”.
Mensink, who did not known specifics about the sexual inappropriate jokes, said that behaviour would appear to be inappropriate and problematic.
“We all strive to respect each other and students in the greatest way possible so of course it’s distressing to hear of anything that goes against that,” he said.
Mensink said there could be disciplinary actions for those who do not meet professional standards.
“Dismissal would probably be the most serious. There could be a letter in the professor’s file. The professor could be talked with by the dean, the department head, the chair.”
Issues go beyond dentistry faculty
One student organization said the buck does not stop with the dentistry school when it comes to issues of misogyny and sexism.
Naznin Daisy Sultana said many female students approach the Dalhousie Association of Graduate Students with concerning stories.
“They’re saying that when they’re working in a lab, their lab mates are not showing enough respect just because they’re female lab mates. If a girl is doing better, they’re saying ‘oh ok, you’re getting that thing by your beauty’,” she said.
Men will graduate
The Nova Scotia Dental Association participated in the restorative justice process and said it’s confident in the men in the class, most of whom are set to graduate.
Executive director Steve Jennex said the behaviour in the Facebook group did not meet the expectations of practicing dentists, but he has seen change and growth in the students.
“They did some wrong things. They’re atoned for them. They’ve come out as good people,” he said.
“I have two teenage daughters. I would not hesitate to send either one of my daughters to see any of the graduates from the 2015 class.”
Jennex said the association, which does not license dentists but represents their interests, would not have any qualms with allowing male members of the dentistry class to become members.
“After what I saw and after what our executive saw in the restorative justice process, no we wouldn’t. These are quality individuals who have learned a lot in the last six months through that process,” he said.
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