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CapU adopts sexual violence policy University formally affirms ‘zero tolerance’ stance on campus
BRENT RICHTER brichter@nsnews.com
Capilano University has passed a policy making it explicit the school has a zero-tolerance attitude towards sexual violence on campus.
Cap’s policy, passed by the board of governors Tuesday, doesn’t take the place of the criminal justice or civil court system, but instead governs how the school will treat students, employees and volunteers at the university who report being victims of, or are accused of sexual violence or misconduct. In May 2016, the province passed legislation mandating all universities and colleges adopt policies to confront sexual violence within one year. It followed a number of high-profile assaults on the University of British Columbia campus and complaints from victims the school was sluggish in responding. Under the policy, the school must provide “confidential assistance and support, referrals and information” to victims as
well as investigate and “take necessary and appropriate action to protect the safety and welfare of the campus community.” The language used in the policy, which has been in development since the summer of 2016, indicates a fundamental shift in thinking in how the school treats sexual violence, said Capilano president Paul Dangerfield. “We spent a lot of the discussion talking about consent and the newer approach to how that it is – that it is freely given and that it can never be assumed. That’s very different from the past. In the past, it was ‘No means no.’ Now it’s a whole new look around how we approach that,” he said. Also noteworthy is the policy’s direction for how the school treats those who come forward, referring to them as “survivors,” rather than complainants or alleged victims. “We will treat every individual coming forward as a survivor and with respect and never put them in question and allow them to make sure they have the services and the support mechanisms to either report or at least look for support,” Dangerfield said. The standard of proof the school will use in investigating reports is the balance of probabilities, rather than beyond a reasonable doubt. That’s also intended to
See Policy page 5
West Van woman admits to $30M Ponzi scheme JANE SEYD jseyd@nsnews.com
A West Vancouver woman has admitted to fraudulently raising at least $30 million from investors as part of a Ponzi scheme.
Emily Solomon, Capilano Students’ Association women’s student liaison and a fourthyear business student, says the campus should feel safer with a strict policy against sexual misconduct in place. PHOTO PAUL MCGRATH
Virginia Tan made the admission as part of a settlement agreement with the B.C. Securities Commission, announced Wednesday. According to securities commission documents, Tan ran a business under the name Letan Investments Management. For several years prior to 2011, Tan raised money from investors for shortterm high-interest loans and paid interest to the investors. After 2011, Tan stopped
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using the money raised for loans, but still issued promissory notes to investors saying the money would be used for “short-term financing.” But instead, Tan now paid interest with money given to her from new investors – a classic Ponzi arrangement. Between 2011 and 2015, Tan raised at least $30 million through the Ponzi scheme, without actually investing that money in real business, according to the securities commission. By late 2015, Tan was unable to raise enough new money to pay the existing investors and stopped making interest payments. Many investors “suffered substantial
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