Dal says sexual assault helpline funding offer matches previous year

By Chris Halef, The Canadian Press

Dalhousie student affairs says the offer to provide funding for the student union’s sexual assault phone line still stands, despite the student union’s criticism that it isn’t enough.

Rhiannon Makohoniuk of the Dalhousie Student Union says it asked the school for $60,000 to run the phone line for 12 months, but was offered less than half of that.

Arig al Shaibah, vice-provost for Dalhousie student affairs, told NEWS 95.7 the school is willing to provide the same amount they did during last year’s pilot program.

“We had offered to fund the initiative again this year for a second year, we received a request, and we agreed to contribute 50 per cent of the operating funds as we did last year,” she said.

She says that would amount to about $22,500 for an operating budget of $45,000.

“We’re open to entertaining requests in the future and the offer of partnering still stands if they choose to engage it,” she said.

Al Shaibah said the phone line is a useful tool for students, but adds it’s just one of the services the university offers.

Makohoniuk says the union will take it upon itself to fund a reduced phone line service from Sept. 3 to Nov. 3, between 12 p.m. and midnight seven days a week.

He says the service, which ran from last September to April, provides support for students who have experienced sexual violence and referrals to on- and off-campus services.

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