A scholar studying strategies to prevent sexual violence on college campuses notes a correlation between the uproar sparked by a controversial banner at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, N.S., and a reported gang rape incident at Cornell University. Alyssa Spridgeon suggests that the public outcry surrounding the St. FX banner has been influenced, in part, by recent criticisms of how American authorities handled the case at Cornell University in upstate New York, where initial decisions not to press charges have prompted an inquiry commissioned by the New York governor.
Spridgeon emphasizes the importance of sustained attention to combatting sexual violence beyond the immediate focus on specific incidents like the Cornell case or the banner incident. She advocates for continued advocacy efforts to address the broader issue of sexual violence prevention even after these headline stories fade from public attention.
Tara Taylor, a professor at St. FX, encountered the controversial sign during her commute, prompting her to photograph it as a documentation of the offensive content. Taylor refrained from capturing another even more offensive sign nearby. She shared the photo on social media to gauge public reaction, which largely mirrored her own perception of the sign as derogatory and indicative of a culture that normalizes sexual violence rather than as mere humor.
In a separate development, former St. FX football player Omogbolahan “Teddy” Jegede, who was convicted of sexually assaulting two female students while Spridgeon was an undergraduate at the university, has completed his prison sentence and is now on day parole. The two victims have filed civil lawsuits against the university in connection with the assaults. St. FX President Andrew Hakin acknowledges changes made to university policies following those assaults and expresses disappointment over the recent banner incident, stressing the institution’s commitment to combating behaviors that objectify women and perpetuate a culture of sexual violence.
Spridgeon highlights a range of responses to the banner incident, from attempts to justify it with a dismissive “boys will be boys” attitude to expressions of outrage. Hakin confirms an ongoing student code of conduct investigation into the incident, with potential sanctions such as suspension or expulsion expected within two weeks.
Spridgeon’s work with varsity athletes at St. FX, where she previously played soccer, has informed her current research on sexual violence within university sports across the Maritimes. She underscores the need for continued efforts to address harmful behaviors such as those displayed through the banners, emphasizing the importance of intervening in daily conversations to challenge inappropriate remarks and attitudes that contribute to a culture of sexual violence.
The interventions advocated by Spridgeon aim to prevent future instances of harmful behavior by challenging the tolerance of offensive displays and jokes that can ultimately normalize more serious offenses like sexual assault.
