Another student was “inappropriate” towards me, SAIT won’t do anything.
this is really long I’m sorry, I wanted to give the context. I’m open to advice.
I‘m a mature student in my second semester of a two year diploma program. Last semester I had 2 classes with someone I’ll call Kevin in this post.
Kevin is around 18/19 years old, I also believe he’s on the autism spectrum. He often loudly repeats the last thing an instructor has said (echolalia), has a hard time staying on task, isn’t able to follow the instructions and monopolizes the instructor’s time with simple questions. But he also doesn’t pay attention as I noticed he watches a lot of Instagram stories with no headphones during clasS. I’m not sure if there are cognitive issues or not. I hope this doesn‘t come across as rude or judgemental, I’m just trying to give my observations and the reality of this situation for context.
Beginning of winter term I noticed Kevin staring at me. He started sitting right beside me or would move mid class to sit beside me, even bringing a chair with him if there wasn’t one to sit between me and someone else. One of these times I noticed his hand was down his pants and he fondled himself for most of the 3 hour class. I was extremely uncomfortable and brought it up to the instructor. I have a lot of empathy for Kevin and I didn’t want to deal with it and so I said I would get up a move if Kevin sat by me. I told the instructor of the other class the same.
So the next few times I got up and moved. We also had projects where we needed to sit with our groups, but I would see him staring at me and it made me really uncomfortable.
One night he messaged me on Teams “Hello (my name)” and he tried calling me, of course I didn’t answer.
Kevin dropped one class so now I only have one class with him.
A few weeks after that I walk into class and Kevin was already sitting down, so I put my things down in my usual spot, across the class. He sees me, picks up his things and tries to sit beside me again. I picked up my things and moved to the other side of the class. He followed me. I pick up my things and move back to my original spot. He follows me. Again I move to the other side of the room. By this point I am shaking, in full fight or flight. 5 minutes later he got up and moved to sit beside me and I again flee to the other side. Now I’m almost in tears, and I have to sit through class and write a quiz. It hits me that all semester I haven’t been able to choose where I sit when I’m in classes with Kevin and it’s not fair.
I decided to file a complaint with Community Conduct. They set a meeting with Kevin but he does not attend. He was emailed that he is to have no contact with me and that he must attend a meeting with CC before he shows up in class. Kevin doesn‘t attend the meeting or contact CC. The rest of our classes were work periods, we only showed up to ask questions. I’m told by CC Kevin was not successful in any of his classes and so I would not have to worry about this in the future. I make it very clear I do not want to share space with Kevin again, that I do not feel safe at all.
The next update to me from CC was at the end of the semester. I was told Kevin did not context CC and showed up to class (work period and I wasn’t there). The instructor gives him the letter and tells him he needs to meet with CC. Kevin’s father gets involved and tells CC that him fondling himself is “a known issue” and that he “has been told he needs to excuse himself for that”. He says that Kevin chooses a “comfort person” in class and it’s “not romantic”. None of this information is relevant. I voice my fears of sharing a space with Kevin and CC again assures me it will not be an issue as Kevin would not move on in the program.
Cut to last week I walk into my class and Kevin is sitting there. i speak to the instructor about it, and he has zero information about the situation, even though Kevin is still not allowed to interact with me. I immediately message the department chair and the CC.
Next day I get an email saying CC and dept chair met and there’s nothing that can be done, Kevin somehow passed one class and there’s no other class to transfer one of us into. I tell the chair I still want to meet with him and he leaves me on read for 3 days. today I spoke to the assistant director of CC, she said nothing can be done and gave no solutions.
Im so disappointed by the way this has been handled by SAIT. This Has caused me so much anxiety, stress and sleepless nights. I have to sit in the back corner or away from Kevin’s eye line. I don’t feel comfortable participating in class because I don’t want him to look at me, despite this he still finds a way to look at me in class. I’m so anxious in class it’s hard to concentrate.
Truly thought SAIT had a higher standard than allowing someone who has a known issue of fondling himself into our classroom.