​​Facing the Red Zone

Why the Dean’s Office must confront gender-based violence from day one

Content warning: sexual assault and gender-based violence.

Orientation is more than just a welcome to campus; it’s a pivotal period that shapes the student experience. Generally, orientation offers first year and incoming students an introduction to campus life, as well as a large variety of student resources that aim to improve student wellbeing. These tend to include connections with student-led organisations, university-based initiatives, and work study opportunities, which should ease their transition into university life.  Nevertheless, orientation is also a hotspot for gender-based violence (GBV), where the Red Zone, Greek Life, and faulty staff training place women, women-presenting individuals, and Queer individuals at an increased risk of victimisation. Thus, the Dean’s Office (DO) needs to do more during orientation to protect students from gender-based violence throughout the school year. ​​This means implementing comprehensive prevention strategies, providing trauma-informed training for staff, and having robust and accessible support systems. The safety and wellbeing of students should be the top priority from the very start, setting a precedent for the entire academic year.

The Red Zone, Greek life, and the normalisation of GBV 

The Red Zone is a critical period at the beginning of the school year, during which there is a statistically higher number of GBV cases on university campuses. This alarming trend is particularly concerning when paired with the insufficient measures in place at Victoria College, leaving students—especially those still acclimating to university life—at a heightened risk. The DO has a responsibility to ensure that all students are protected, yet the current system  is inadequate.

Greek life, with its strong presence during orientation, plays a significant role in exacerbating the dangers of the Red Zone. Fraternity parties are often marketed as quintessential college experiences, but they are also environments where rape culture is disturbingly prevalent. This culture—characterised by the normalisation of sexual violence, the objectification of women, and the dismissal of survivors’ experiences—thrives within Greek life organisations. The hierarchical, male-dominated structure of fraternities creates an environment where consent is often undermined, increasing the likelihood of GBV. Moreover, the exclusionary and secretive nature of these organisations further isolates students, making it challenging to seek help or report abuse. 

The silence from the DO on the pervasive issue of rape culture within Greek life is unacceptable. It not only signals a lack of commitment to student safety but also allows harmful behaviors to persist unchecked. By failing to challenge the culture that perpetuates the Red Zone, the DO is complicit in its persistence. An official stance against Greek life’s role in fostering unsafe environments is necessary to signal that the safety and wellbeing of students are a top priority.

Furthermore, despite the documented connections between rape culture in Greek life and the increased risk of GBV, the DO has failed to take a strong stand against Greek life. By not offering safer, more inclusive alternatives for socialising, the DO effectively funnels students into these high-risk environments. It’s not enough to simply acknowledge the existence of these risks; the DO must actively work to mitigate them. Organising events that provide a safer, more welcoming atmosphere is a critical step in mitigating the risks of GBV during the Red Zone.

A lack of peer support training and the danger of re-victimisation

The training student leaders (specifically Transition Mentors and Leaders) undergo in preparation for O-week fails to focus on survivor-centred care. For the most part, the three-day training offers a general overview of important topics, such as: the definitions of sexual assault and sexual harassment, a conversation about the importance and meaning of consent, and different ways to recognise instances of gender-based violence. Nevertheless, it fails to consider the necessity to include a trauma-informed lens, as it teaches how to respond to critical scenarios without prioritising survivors and their care.

Understood as a method that focuses on the survivors’ empowerment, a survivor-centred approach to GBV promotes the dignity and agency of survivors by creating a supportive environment for healing, while aiming to avoid their re-victimisation. This approach is essential for any type of organisation or programming that works on GBV, as it highlights intersectionality and overlapping systems of oppression while caring for staff and participants alike. In many instances, it takes the form of promoting clear safeguarding policies, standardised ways of working, and specific operating procedures that relate to confidentiality, safety planning, referrals, and case management. 

At orientation, these considerations are notably absent. Granted, this is a scenario where multiple people and factors need to be considered simultaneously, but when it comes to gender-based violence and incoming students, it is necessary for student leaders and staff to be aware of the possibility of re-victimisation and how to act accordingly. This type of knowledge goes hand in hand with a thorough discussion of GBV, which demands a deeper understanding of survivors’ agency and a broader consideration for their safety. 

Ultimately, the recognition of trauma is fundamental to stopping its repetition. Orientation—which aims to work on GBV prevention while providing direct services—must ensure that harmful behavior is not exacerbated during its programming by offering recognisable onsite support and clear paths for staff and participants to report any instance of violence. 

While the state of education regarding gender-based violence is improving with the new “Building a Culture of Consent at the University of Toronto” online training for residence students, the Victoria College Dean’s Office is taking insufficient action in preventing this violence and supporting Vic survivors. 

Orientation is a time for excitement and new beginnings, but it is also a critical period where students’ safety and wellbeing must be protected. The Victoria College Dean’s Office cannot afford to remain complacent in the prevalence of gender-based violence during this vulnerable time. It is not enough to offer superficial solutions; the DO must take decisive action to dismantle rape culture, challenge the harmful practices within Greek life, and ensure that all aspects of orientation are informed by a survivor-centred approach. The responsibility to create a safe and inclusive environment falls squarely on the shoulders of those in power, and the DO must rise to the occasion. The stakes are too high for inaction—it’s time for the DO to prioritise the safety of every student from the very first moment they set foot on campus.