My son reported the rape of a girl in the Saguenay Explore program a few years ago. The experience lead to many kids with many terrifying issues following the rape at the program.
M
Martin Shulman
9 years ago
Would somebody let these fools know that rape is not comedy.
A
Anonymous
9 years ago
Featured
I applied for this program recently and was shocked to hear of this. I'm very wary of taking part now, because I want to focus on getting immersed in Francophone culture, not worry about getting raped. This is ridiculous and the university needs to wake up and realize it's the 21st century, and that it's never the victim's fault.
C
Carmela de Torres
10 years ago
I'm going to be a part of the Explore Program at UQTR for the summer session and I'm shocked and horrified that something like this has happened at the university I'm about to attend. I really hope UQTR fixes some of its policies.
J
Julie Michaud
10 years ago
Educational institutions have a responsibility to ensure that their learning environments are safe and respectful. This rape culture has got to end.
S
SACOMSS
10 years ago
We at SACOMSS stand in solidarity with individuals at UQTR and this petition to re-educate about consent and against rape culture. Please read our open letter for more details: http://www.opnlttr.com/letter/open-letter-university-qu%C3%A8bec-trois-rivi%C3%A8res
A
Anonymous
10 years ago
My teacher was very racist and when we confronted the dean of the school, she did not see a problem with it even though we had a worksheet from our teacher with her name on it that clearly specified racism.
M
Marion
10 years ago
A program that spreads myths and misinformation should be shelved and a current program adopted.
R
Rachel Jansen
10 years ago
Moved by this movement.
K
Katherina Yerro
10 years ago
This is a troubling pattern among Explore programs that must be addressed!
U
Ubyssey News Ubyssey
10 years ago
Hi! I'm Moira and I'm one of the news editors from the Ubyssey (http://ubyssey.ca/), the campus newspaper at UBC. Would you be willing to talk to me about this? We're writing an article on these incidences as well as the general response of individual Explore programs to occurences such as these and it would be really great to have your input! My email is [email protected] if this sounds like something you would be willing to talk to me about, I'd really appreciate it!
C
Conrad Leibel
10 years ago
Keep up the amazing work!
A
Annabelle
11 years ago
As a past UQAM summer explore student, this is unsurprising based on the notoriously loose security at the campus. Students are literally getting assaulted from people in and outside of the program.
S
SarahRose Werner
11 years ago
Featured
I'm not a student. I'd never heard of Explore before this. What I am is a tax-paying Canadian citizen. I am appalled to hear that my tax dollars are going to support a "learning environment" which is so obviously sexist and which perpetrates rape culture.
E
Emily Smith
11 years ago
Seriously upsetting!! Get it together, Explore!!
E
Ella Gladstone Martin
11 years ago
I was planning on going on Explore this summer. Now that I've heard about this I am reconsidering. Rape culture permeates our society. Education is key.
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
I was a participant in the Explore program in 2014 and was shocked at the norm of sexist topics that existed within the curriculum. The women in our class faced sexist remarks and discussions on multiple occasions. For example, based on a topic that focused on 'beauty', the women were asked to come to class with no makeup - the professor assuming that, of course, all women wear make up. On the day when some came to class wearing make up, they were ridiculed by the prof. One student who chose to come make up free, was told that she looked better with make up. Additional topics and discussions were based on assumed heteronormative values, becoming borderline homophobic at times. Although there were no skits perpetuating rape culture and victim blaming, animateurs (paid staff of the program) were sexually involved with students. As mentioned in a comment above, a portion of the oppressive culture stems from the fact that many of these programs take place in small rural and homogenous communities, where patriarchal and heteronormative values are predominant. I believe the program is very valuable for the continuation of language learning for young Canadians, yet I hope that the policies and oppressive culture can be examined and changed.
A
Anonymous
11 years ago
I have done the Explore program twice. Nothing happened the first time- in fact the program was wonderful. However the second time, I felt so insecure and uncomfortable due to things I have heard that were happening- things that concerned the actions of certain staff members of Explore at the location I was at. As a result, I have spent many nights wondering whether I should leave the program early. Hopefully something will be done to improve things in the future as I truly believe Explore is an amazing program.
K
Kyle
11 years ago
As a hopeful future participant, I want to see this program welcoming to all Canadians. As of this point, this is not the case
A
Adrian Tsui
11 years ago
I have done the Explore program twice, both in Trois-Rivières as well as in Rivière-du-Loup. While I was not personally victim to sexual assault, being a visible minority in a small Québecois town made doing the Explore program an interesting and difficult experience at times.
While I do not feel my experiences were nearly as appalling as some of those described in this petition (especially those concerning rape culture, etc). I was, however, made to feel very uncomfortable about my race/ethnicity by UQTR staff on a number of occasions, for example:
i) An animateur (leader) confusing the names of two women of Asian heritage and then explaining that her mistake was "because Asian people look the same" (loosely translated from French)
(ii) an animateur giving me a 'nickname' purely based on my heritage and continuing to refer to me by this nickname throughout the duration of the program.
I experienced countless other such incidents during my time at Explore, and I could go on for quite some time about this. But in total fairness I do not recall any others involving SPECIFICALLY Explore staff/admin (as opposed to the locals in the town).
While I am signing this petition, my largest worry is that this is a problem with Québecois culture at large and not just an issue at this one institution. Nevertheless, I am of course in support of those who are currently trying to enact change on these issues at this level at UQTR.
I am incredibly grateful for the Explore program for having given me the opportunity to travel and experience another culture/learn a language. I tell all my friends that doing Explore was one of the best decisions I ever made, despite encountering these issues. However, hearing about these incidents is incredibly disheartening, saddening, and something must be done to improve things in the future and to hold staff accountable.
My son reported the rape of a girl in the Saguenay Explore program a few years ago. The experience lead to many kids with many terrifying issues following the rape at the program.
Would somebody let these fools know that rape is not comedy.
I applied for this program recently and was shocked to hear of this. I'm very wary of taking part now, because I want to focus on getting immersed in Francophone culture, not worry about getting raped. This is ridiculous and the university needs to wake up and realize it's the 21st century, and that it's never the victim's fault.
I'm going to be a part of the Explore Program at UQTR for the summer session and I'm shocked and horrified that something like this has happened at the university I'm about to attend. I really hope UQTR fixes some of its policies.
Educational institutions have a responsibility to ensure that their learning environments are safe and respectful. This rape culture has got to end.
We at SACOMSS stand in solidarity with individuals at UQTR and this petition to re-educate about consent and against rape culture. Please read our open letter for more details: http://www.opnlttr.com/letter/open-letter-university-qu%C3%A8bec-trois-rivi%C3%A8res
My teacher was very racist and when we confronted the dean of the school, she did not see a problem with it even though we had a worksheet from our teacher with her name on it that clearly specified racism.
A program that spreads myths and misinformation should be shelved and a current program adopted.
Moved by this movement.
This is a troubling pattern among Explore programs that must be addressed!
Hi! I'm Moira and I'm one of the news editors from the Ubyssey (http://ubyssey.ca/), the campus newspaper at UBC. Would you be willing to talk to me about this? We're writing an article on these incidences as well as the general response of individual Explore programs to occurences such as these and it would be really great to have your input! My email is [email protected] if this sounds like something you would be willing to talk to me about, I'd really appreciate it!
Keep up the amazing work!
As a past UQAM summer explore student, this is unsurprising based on the notoriously loose security at the campus. Students are literally getting assaulted from people in and outside of the program.
I'm not a student. I'd never heard of Explore before this. What I am is a tax-paying Canadian citizen. I am appalled to hear that my tax dollars are going to support a "learning environment" which is so obviously sexist and which perpetrates rape culture.
Seriously upsetting!! Get it together, Explore!!
I was planning on going on Explore this summer. Now that I've heard about this I am reconsidering. Rape culture permeates our society. Education is key.
I was a participant in the Explore program in 2014 and was shocked at the norm of sexist topics that existed within the curriculum. The women in our class faced sexist remarks and discussions on multiple occasions. For example, based on a topic that focused on 'beauty', the women were asked to come to class with no makeup - the professor assuming that, of course, all women wear make up. On the day when some came to class wearing make up, they were ridiculed by the prof. One student who chose to come make up free, was told that she looked better with make up. Additional topics and discussions were based on assumed heteronormative values, becoming borderline homophobic at times. Although there were no skits perpetuating rape culture and victim blaming, animateurs (paid staff of the program) were sexually involved with students. As mentioned in a comment above, a portion of the oppressive culture stems from the fact that many of these programs take place in small rural and homogenous communities, where patriarchal and heteronormative values are predominant. I believe the program is very valuable for the continuation of language learning for young Canadians, yet I hope that the policies and oppressive culture can be examined and changed.
I have done the Explore program twice. Nothing happened the first time- in fact the program was wonderful. However the second time, I felt so insecure and uncomfortable due to things I have heard that were happening- things that concerned the actions of certain staff members of Explore at the location I was at. As a result, I have spent many nights wondering whether I should leave the program early. Hopefully something will be done to improve things in the future as I truly believe Explore is an amazing program.
As a hopeful future participant, I want to see this program welcoming to all Canadians. As of this point, this is not the case
I have done the Explore program twice, both in Trois-Rivières as well as in Rivière-du-Loup. While I was not personally victim to sexual assault, being a visible minority in a small Québecois town made doing the Explore program an interesting and difficult experience at times. While I do not feel my experiences were nearly as appalling as some of those described in this petition (especially those concerning rape culture, etc). I was, however, made to feel very uncomfortable about my race/ethnicity by UQTR staff on a number of occasions, for example: i) An animateur (leader) confusing the names of two women of Asian heritage and then explaining that her mistake was "because Asian people look the same" (loosely translated from French) (ii) an animateur giving me a 'nickname' purely based on my heritage and continuing to refer to me by this nickname throughout the duration of the program. I experienced countless other such incidents during my time at Explore, and I could go on for quite some time about this. But in total fairness I do not recall any others involving SPECIFICALLY Explore staff/admin (as opposed to the locals in the town). While I am signing this petition, my largest worry is that this is a problem with Québecois culture at large and not just an issue at this one institution. Nevertheless, I am of course in support of those who are currently trying to enact change on these issues at this level at UQTR. I am incredibly grateful for the Explore program for having given me the opportunity to travel and experience another culture/learn a language. I tell all my friends that doing Explore was one of the best decisions I ever made, despite encountering these issues. However, hearing about these incidents is incredibly disheartening, saddening, and something must be done to improve things in the future and to hold staff accountable.