St. FX students protest school’s handling of alleged sexual assault

ANTIGONISH, N.S. – A group of students says an apology from St. Francis Xavier University's president for the school's handling of an alleged sexual assault case isn't enough.

Yesterday, nearly 40 demonstrators from the school and community confronted president Kent MacDonald as he addressed potential students at the university's open house, and they have plans to launch a petition Monday demanding that St. F.X. make changes in the way they handle sexual assault cases.

The school recently came under fire after The Canadian Press reported that the university set aside its decision to suspend a student it found responsible for an alleged sexual assault, without notifying the man's accuser.

Student Kaitlin Dryden says this particular case is one of many, and the school is only apologizing because of the recent media attention.

Dryden, who says she experienced sexual assault in her first year of university, says she has spoken to the administration three times before about sexual violence on campus and has received little response.

University spokeswoman Cindy MacKenzie says the school is working to advance its efforts to further develop and improve their sexual assault policies, and looks forward to "engaging the St. F.X. community" in the process.