Task Force on Misogyny, Sexism and Homophobia
The Faculty of Dentistry supports the work of the external Task Force on Misogyny, Sexism and Homophobia, which was launched by President Richard Florizone on January 9, 2015.
The task force’s mandate is to investigate the culture, practices and policies within the Faculty of Dentistry. The task force will also consider broader policies and practices at Dalhousie; review policies, standards and practices at other Canadian universities; and identify policies and practices that could be put in place to investigate anonymous complaints of harassment and discrimination.
The task force is chaired by Constance Backhouse, a distinguished university professor and university research chair at the University of Ottawa with a long-standing background in issues of gender equality, chairs the task force. Professor Backhouse is joined by Don McRae, a professor at the University of Ottawa, and Nitya Iyer, a lawyer with expertise in human rights and professional regulation.
The task force has made four separate visits to campus (February 27-28, March 13-14, April 13-17, April 27-28), gathering input from faculty, staff, students and administration. All members of the Faculty of Dentistry (including alumni) have been invited to contribute to the task force, as has the broader Dalhousie community.
The task force has the full cooperation of the Faculty of Dentistry, and we expect its external perspective and expertise will be extremely helpful in our efforts to ensure a stronger, more inclusive community. We look forward to receiving its reports and taking action to address its recommendations.