Following misogynistic comments directed at female dentistry students, Dalhousie University announced its decision on Jan. 5, to suspend 13 male dentistry students from degree-required clinical activities

HALIFAX (CUP) — Thirteen dentistry students at Dalhousie University may still be able to attend classes next week, despite being suspended from degree-required clinic work. Dalhousie President Richard Florizone said in a press release Jan. 5, only hours before a community protest against the treatment of the victims, the suspension only affects the publicly-attended dental clinics. Dentistry classes have been postponed until Jan. 12.

This sanction follows revelations of misogynistic Facebook posts targeting female dentistry students. The scandal broke out mid-December, when sexually explicit Facebook posts from the 2015 DDS Gentlemen’s Club Facebook group were made public by the CBC and the Coast. The posts show male dentistry students voted on which female student to have “hate sex” with. Others joked about getting women unconscious with chloroform or nitrous oxide, in order to “bang until stress is relieved.”

Another man defined “penis” as, “the tool used to wean and convert lesbians and virgins into useful, productive members of society.” Another member replied, saying, “by productive i’m (sic) assuming you mean it inspires them to become chefs, housekeepers, babysitters, etc.”

Jacob Boon, city editor at the Coast, reported receiving private Facebook messages showing members of the group discussing the media storm. Some suggested apologising, reported the Coast’s Boon, but not all: “Fuck an apology,” said one.

Four Dalhousie professors submitted a formal complaint using the Student Code of Conduct Dec. 21st. Francoise Baylis, a bioethics professor at the university, said this process is transparent, would result in a clear decision of innocent or guilty and not require the women to publicize their names. The women have so far remained anonymous in media reports.

Instead, Florizone is proceeding with a restorative justice procedure through the sexual harassment policy. That, in part, involved the men and women meeting to “resolve complaints between the parties.” The process would be secret and result in no decision on whether or not sexual harassment happened at all. Community members have voiced their disagreement on social media using the hashtag #dalhousiehateswomen.

The partial suspension today is part of a second process using an Academic Standards Class Committee consisting of dentistry professors who teach fourth-year students. A question and answer page about the decision on Dal’s website said the committee will assess each student individually to see whether he meets professional requirements. Florizone’s press release said this committee may create a remediation plan, which could recommend academic dismissal.

“There must be significant consequences for those that endorse and enable misogyny on campus,” wrote Florizone.

Baylis said the professors want their complaint to be acknowledged and the proper procedure followed. If their complaint is followed under the code of conduct, Baylis said the president could issue an immediate suspension from classes.

“Every single student that comes to Dalhousie should be aware that we have a commitment to a safe and supportive learning environment,” she said. “At this point I’m in a position that I’m at least questioning whether that’s true for the fourth-year dentistry students.”

Baylis said if sitting next to one of the men in class, the victims “might be imagining all kinds of things, right? How is that providing me with an appropriate environment in which I can focus on my studies?”

The decision was announced the morning of Jan. 5, the first day back for students. Florizone said in a press conference, the decision was actually made Dec. 22, but postponed due to concerns several men were at risk of self-harm. The question and answer page said the school wanted to give students “appropriate in-person support” including counselling.

“It’s not really much of a consequence for the Dalhousie dentistry students, but it looks good that Dalhousie is taking some action,” said student Madison Foster, who attended the community protest.

Student Hannah Milley was also there. She’s a board member of South House, the student-funded gender resource centre which has helped organized two protests so far.

“What about our mental health?” she said. “What about the people who had to spend their holidays worrying about if they’ll be forced back into classrooms with the classmates who threatened to rape them?”

Dalhousie also launched a new page on its website called “Culture of Respect,” which included the question and answer page about the scandal. It said details will be released soon of a presidential task force related to this event.

—With files from Sophie Allen-Barron and Nick Holland