"McGill University professor Shaheen Shariff, an expert on the legal and policy aspects of cyber-bullying, noted that the case comes to light after a wave of online and physical sexual harassment in Canada and the United States.
“Over the last year, various forms of sexual violence and misogyny have been exposed through news and social media within the highest levels of Canadian government, media organizations, and universities across North America,” she told the PanAm Post.
Shariff highlighted the decision of the University of Virginia to ban fraternity houses on campus in November over their alleged perpetration of misogyny, and recent news reportsanalyzing allegedly endemic rape culture throughout Canadian universities.
Nevertheless, she described the response of higher education authorities nationwide as “inconsistent,” noting the controversy over Dalhousie’s restorative justice proposals. Shariff argued that the media and relevant authorities in such cases have to walk a tightrope in balancing the rights of victims and alleged perpetrators.
“Decision-makers have to bear in mind that exposing allegations would place them in a compromised position of being judged by the ‘court of public opinion’ before being judged in a court of law,” she said. As an example, Shariff mentioned the case of former CBC radio presenter Jian Gomeshi, who lost his job after being embroiled in a sexual assault scandal in October, prior to facing formal charges."