“I would like it if some of our tuition went to providing pepper spray for students”: University Branding, Securitization and Campus Sexual Assault at a Canadian University

Abstract

This is a case study of the response to sexual assault at a major Canadian university, York University. Despite extensive security upgrades and educational resources in response to growing concern about sexual assault on campus, it is demonstrated that York University’s policy and procedures provide little meaningful support to university community members impacted by sexual assault. It is argued that current responses to sexual assault at York University rely almost exclusively on prevention strategies and securitization of the campus. Such responses depend on rape myths perpetuating the false notion that strangers, who are non-students, are most likely to commit sexual assault in public spaces on campus. The analysis further examines the relationship between the neoliberal marketization of universities and institutional responses to campus sexual assault. While York presents their responses as “survivor-centric,” security-centred responses are strategically mobilized as a means to further the university brand.