January 6, 2015

Dr. Richard Florizone, President

Dalhousie University
Henry Hicks Administration Building
6299 South Street, Room 108
PO Box 15000
Halifax, NS B3H 4R2

Dear President Florizone:

Dalhousie held an information session led by Melissa MacKay and Jennifer Llewellyn on January
5, 2015 about the restorative justice process that Dalhousie has elected to pursue to address
complaints brought to the University regarding posts on the Facebook group Class of DDS 2015
Gentlemen. This was the first time that all of the women in our class (including many who are
directly affected) were asked whether or not we consented to participate in this process,
despite what you have been telling the media.
We are writing this open letter to inform you that, after considering the information that was
presented in that meeting, we do not wish for the sexual harassment and discrimination
perpetrated by members of our class to be dealt with through this restorative justice process or
under the Sexual Harassment Policy. We feel that the University is pressuring us into this
process, silencing our views, isolating us from our peers, and discouraging us from choosing to
proceed formally. This has perpetuated our experience of discrimination. This approach falls far
below what we expected from you, and what we believe we deserve.
Telling us that we can either participate in restorative justice or file a formal complaint is
presenting us with a false choice. We have serious concerns about the impact of filing formal
complaints on our chances of academic success at the Faculty of Dentistry, and believe that
doing so would jeopardize our futures. The reason we have not filed formal complaints is also
the reason we have not signed our names to this letter.
We understand that Dalhousie is currently considering whether or not to accept a formal
complaint that was sent to Vice Provost, Student Affairs, Anne Forrestall, by four faculty
members on December 21, 2014, under the Student Code of Conduct. We have reviewed a
copy of this complaint that was published in the media on January 3, 2015.
We support this complaint. It accurately reflects our concerns. We believe that, without
processing this formal complaint, the impact of this conduct on us cannot properly be
addressed. We also agree with the faculty members that no individual woman in our class
should be required to advance a formal complaint in her own name, or to participate as a
witness. The University has enough information to initiate an investigation and move forward.

We understand that this matter will be considered by the Academic Standards Class Committee
at the Faculty of Dentistry, and that 13 students have been suspended from clinical activities
until they are cleared by this committee. We agree that the Faculty should be concerned about
whether or not the men involved in this group are able to meet the academic requirement of
professionalism before graduating as dentists, as part of the Facultys obligation to the public.
However, we believe that important aspects of this complaint as it affects us can only be
addressed under the Student Code of Conduct. For example, as part of its mandate to evaluate
academic performance, the ASCC will not be able to consider whether the conduct of these
men deprived us of a learning environment that was free from sexual harassment and
discrimination. The decision of the ASCC on individual academic achievement will not provide
other women in the University community with an assurance that they can expect equal access
to education.
We are also concerned that the University has been in possession of a copy of the Facebook
posts since December 12, 2014, but has not conducted any form of investigation into the
matter. The University has also declined to disclose to us (those most directly affected) the
full extent of what it does know. We have not been provided with a full copy of the Facebook
posts that affect us, despite the fact that the men, and the media, have them. We are
concerned that this lack of investigation and disclosure has led to the re-victimization of women
in our class, and to a failure to properly identify both those responsible for and those affected
by this conduct. Not all of the men involved have been identified to the University, and not all
of the women affected have been properly informed.
We urge Dalhousie to accept and properly consider the formal complaint that was brought by
the four faculty members in December. We believe that this must start with a fully independent
investigation. This conduct is part of a pattern of unacceptable behaviour at the Faculty of
Dentistry that requires scrutiny.
We are not asking for a particular outcome, only for a just and appropriate process. Please
ensure that our wishes are properly considered and represented in any further announcements
you make. We have been disappointed to hear you speak to the media about those most
directly affected in a way that ignores our views.
If, despite our requests, this matter is not properly investigated or considered formally as a
Code of Conduct complaint, Dalhousie will send the message that there is no penalty for
harming its female students in this way. You will be telling us that we dont matter.
Yours very truly,
4 women from the DDS Class of 2015