From: Rutherford, Mel <rutherm@mcmaster.

ca>
Date: Tuesday, August 31, 2021 at 7:41 PM
To: d-psycfa@mcmaster.ca <d-psycfa@mcmaster.ca>, d-psycpdocs@mcmaster.ca <d-
psycpdocs@mcmaster.ca>, d-psycst@mcmaster.ca <d-psycst@mcmaster.ca>, d-psycgs@mcmaster.ca <d-
psycgs@mcmaster.ca>
Subject: A message to our PNB Community

Dear Members of our PNB Community,

A new school year is about to launch, and many of us are feeling that back-to-school excitement. I would like
to thank all of you for making it through the past year. I can’t tell you how grateful I am to all of you who were
able to listen to each other, learn about our community, and re-commit to our core value of continuous
improvement.

As a newly appointed Chair of PNB, I am committed to working together to foster a learning and working
environment that is safe for all students, staff, and faculty. I have been asked by a number of people, including
undergraduate students, graduate students, and reporters how students are going to feel safe in our
department when classes resume this fall, following the recent investigations of discrimination, harassment
and sexual violence that involved several PNB members. This email is my response.

First, let me be very clear that it is my intention to ensure that PNB is an environment where sexual violence,
discrimination and harassment is not tolerated. Reports of sexually inappropriate behaviour will be taken
seriously. Anyone who comes forward with a complaint of sexual violence, discrimination or harassment
should be met with compassion, listened to earnestly, and provided with accurate information about their
options. I understand the gravity of this obligation in the context of a world where, historically, complainants
have not always been taken seriously.

Second, I want to be clear that although you read in the Daily News that some faculty members were
suspended, no faculty member was, in fact, “suspended”. The term “suspension” implies guilt and a
consequent disciplinary action, and this language should not have been used. In fact, some individuals were
placed on non-disciplinary administrative leaves. These leaves were initiated prior to any investigation, were
without prejudice, and did not imply guilt. Critically, according to policy, they were not punishments. Instead,
these administrative leaves were meant to ensure the integrity of the investigations. The University
Administration hired an outside independent investigator, Katharine Montpetit of Rubin Thomlinson LLP.
Investigations involved multiple interviews with complainants and respondents as well as a review of much
additional evidence.

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Although the first respondent is still to be tried in court, all other respondents were found not to have violated
any University policies, including the sexual violence policy, the discrimination and harassment policy, and the
faculty code of conduct (which requires ethical and professional behaviour). As a result of these investigations,
non-disciplinary administrative leaves were ended.

Third, you would have read in the Daily News that the department has a “degree of complacency that has let
inappropriate behaviours go unchecked.” Let me be clear: The leadership of PNB will not be complacent if
harm is inflicted on our students. If a complaint of assault or harassment were to come to the attention of the
leadership of our department, the appropriate response, per McMaster policy, would be to pass that
complaint onto an intake office on campus, such as the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response office, which
is housed in the Equity and Inclusion Office. This is the action that has been taken in all such cases that have
been brought to the attention of department leadership over at least the past decade. Following this referral,
the department plays no part in investigations or sanctions, and the relevant University policies do not require
that the department be informed of outcomes, or even informed when the investigation is complete.

Recent events have highlighted a number of weaknesses in the sexual violence policy and the discrimination
and harassment policy, and you can be sure that members of the department will advocate for policy changes
that support the safety of all. Complainants of sexual violence and sexual harassment must be supported by
the University’s policies and procedures.

Of course, your feeling of safety will also depend on all of our actions going forward. PNB faculty members are
recommitting to our value of continuous improvement. We are listening to you, we are learning from you. We
are actively working with all stakeholders to develop action plans to help us move forward. This message is
one such action. We are continuing to work on strengthening best practices through various initiatives
including evidence-based training. We will continue to communicate.

This email was difficult to craft. My intention is to share information with you, and I have tried to describe
events without commentary. Many people worked with me to craft this email in order to reduce the chances
of harm, and I want to thank the students, staff and faculty who helped to check my tone and language.

Together we are moving forward. If you have any concerns, my door is open.

On to a better year,

Mel Rutherford