Report blasts sexist culture

Dalhousie flayed as ‘paternalistic’

Dalhousie University should overhaul its culture and the way it handles complaints of sexism in the aftermath of misogynistic comments posted on Facebook by some male dentistry students, says a task force appointed by the school.

Constance Backhouse, a professor at the University of Ottawa who led the investigation, said Monday that she and two other panel members received several reports of sexism, misogyny, homophobia and racism at the dentistry faculty in Halifax.

“We think the culture in the dental school is paternalistic and that there has been a degree of obliviousness to changing mores and to the ways in which respect for women should be expressed,” she told a news conference in Halifax, adding that one alumni described the school as being locked in a time warp.

“This was not an isolated incident and the status quo is unacceptable.”

Backhouse also found there was a level of distrust and suspicion about the university’s responses to discrimination. She said most people told them they were too afraid to complain about sexist or racist issues because of the risk of retaliation, or that little would be done to address perceived problems.

The panel issued 39 recommendations and said the complaint system should be changed to ensure they are handled promptly, fairly and transparently — and that the outcome is shared with the complainant.

The task force also suggested the university set up an ombudsman’s office, similar to those found at other universities.

The investigation was announced earlier this year after 13 dentistry students were alleged to be members of a Facebook page that contained sexually violent content.

The report does not assign blame or make findings of fact, but it says the culture within the faculty of dentistry “permits incidents of sexism and misogyny.”

Dalhousie president Richard Florizone launched the probe to look into the culture, practices and policies in the dentistry faculty and the university as a whole.