Brandon U needs to build 'safe athletics environment,' review says after reported sexual harassment by coach

A report triggered by allegations of sexual harassment by a former Brandon University coachmakes three dozen recommendations focused on better protecting athletes in the campus sports programs.

Among 36 recommendations, the report suggests"fostering a safe athletics environment" bycreatingasafe sport plan andcommittee as well as acode of conduct for coaches, along with more robust tracking of incidents andbetter supports for sexual violence prevention on campus.

"There is a perception, from both staff and students, that the university appears to want to protect the individual being complained about over and above the person making the complaint," states the report, which was released by the southwestern Manitoba university on Tuesday.

One participant told reviewers Brandon University needs "to establish trust and build a culture where people can come forward and be confident in the process that the university will act appropriately," the report says.

It was prepared by three people with past experience in university sports: Steve Fitterer, a formervice-president ofstudents atMount Royal University; Melissa Knox, a human rights and sports lawyer with Sport Law; and Sandy Slavin, a former athletic director ofUniversity of Lethbridge.

The report stems from accusationsmade by students in 2021of sexually suggestive behavioursby former BU Bobcats women's soccer coachJesse Roziere.

An independent investigation supported the allegations and found a pattern of sexually harassing behaviour toward young players in the program. It also foundRoziererepeatedly abused his position of power over the women athletes.

He was put on leave in 2021.InApril 2022, the university apologized and declared it would conduct a review of the sports program.

The reviewers noted that maltreatment, the athlete-coach relationship dynamic and other issues once thought to be socially acceptableare no longer tolerated in the sport landscape.

The experience of the women's soccer team members "was provided on several occasions as an example of an overall lack of awareness or understanding of acceptable behaviour, particularly with respect to coach-athlete interactions," as well as"a lack of uniform standards and processes" across the athletics department andthe universitygenerally,and "a lack of oversight for ensuring compliance of set standards," the report states.

The reviewers also note the Bobcats Athletics and Healthy Living Centre are highly regarded in the community and that negative experiences of BU students risk"tarnishing the positive reputation BU has built."

Some who provided feedback said they felt comfortable raising concerns with teammates and coaches, while others expressed reluctance over fears they could face retaliation, or suggestedthey didn't entirely trustthe university and weren't certain what the university's intentions for the review were.

'Blurred lines'

The recommendations include calls formore structuredmeetings andrecord-keeping practices among coaches, as well as updating BU social media policies so they align with theUniversal Code of Conduct to Prevent and Address Maltreatment in Sportpublished by the non-profitCanadian Centre for Ethics in Sport.

The reviewers recommend BU conduct a risk assessment at an institutional level and create procedures ensuring student athletes have reviewed university guidelines. They also want mandatory training and coaching in areas like safe sport and the "rule of two."

The university should also update its conflict of interest policies and communicate those more consistently to athletics staff and students, according to the report.

"Both staff and student participants, on their own initiative, referenced 'blurred lines' when it comes to relationships and friendships,'" the report said.

BU should also implement independent complaint management processes and independent coach evaluation processes for student athletes that allowplayers to share input with someone in human resources or senior leadership, the report states.

The reviewers also suggest creating an independent "safe disclosure officer" or sport professional athletescan speak with confidentially about concerns within their teams or department.

A common theme from participants was that the Bobcat Athletics program operates in a "silo," with little information sharing happening between it and other administrative units on campus.

There is also a push for the university to do a better job of making students and athletes aware of counselling, mental health and other supports available to them.

"With better education and a greater understanding of what services and support are offered, there is a high probability that BU will see an increase in members of the community feeling safe enough to disclose their experiences," the report said.

The report recommends the university reinstate its campus sexual assault advisory committee, which reviewers learned hasn't met in three years.

The university said many of the report'srecommendations have already been implemented or are in progress.

Read the full report: