Brock University cancelled a history class after protests were made by the community over the assigned professor set to teach the class—who returned to the school after being disciplined for sexual misconduct.
History professor David Schimmelpenninck van der Oye returned to teach during the winter 2019 term from his three-year suspension.
The suspension was a result of an investigation by Brock over allegations of inappropriate comments and sexual advances towards a female student in 2014.
A protest was held by the Ontario Public Interest Research Group Brock, on Jan. 10, accompanied by a petition calling for the professor’s resignation. As of Jan. 16, the petition has received 1,552 signatures out of its goal of 2,000.
“For the safety of all students, faculty, and staff, it is crucial that Schimmelpenninck immediately resign from Brock University,” the petition page reads. “We will not let individuals who have a history of committing sexual violence get away with their actions.”
The OPIRG had other demands including mandatory in-person training for members of the Brock University Faculty Association and CUPE 4207 on dealing with harassment and abuse, and how to respond to disclosures of sexual violence. Another demand asked the association to develop a code of ethics prohibiting sexual relations with students and others over whom they have power.
Brock put out a statement following decry from the campus community, saying the school “takes very seriously the right of every member of the university community to work and study in a respectful and safe environment.” The statement also says the university “respects the many students and individuals who have expressed their views in a constructive and thoughtful manner.”
Protests on social media, under the hashtag #BrockUMeToo, emerged to oppose Schimmelpenninck’s return. An Instagram account, @getschimmelpenninckout, was created with a list of demands, including a demand for Schimmelpenninck to be removed from the Royal Society of Canada.
But, his colleagues at the Brock University Faculty Association came to his defence and in a statement to the CBC, said “[Schimmelpenninck] has the right of every faculty member to teach and to do his research.”
“If I could undo it, and the harm I caused, I absolutely would, I made serious mistakes and the university has disciplined me for them,” Schimmelpenninck said in a statement to the CBC. “I know that some people will never accept me back at the school.”
The university has declined any further comments for the time being.
Brock’s Human Rights and Equity Department is currently conducting a biannual review, with open consultation, of the Sexual Assault and Harassment policy, according to the university’s website.
“This open consultation process is intended to give the opportunity for feedback on the policy to all Brock students, staff, faculty and the greater Brock community,” the website reads.
Town hall meetings are being held at the end of this month through March.
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Illustration by Jasmine Foong
