By now, I've heard "grab them by the pussy" so many times that I've lost count, and it seems that we're busy declaring, yet again, another so-called watershed moment in our national and international conversations on sexual violence. It's a shame that in order to do so, we have to listen to yet another powerful political and cultural figure openly denigrating women -- "nasty" women, to use his own parlance. I've been wondering: why was it only after the release of the Trump's 2005 Access Hollywood tape that we started really listening to women? And why are Trump's words the ones that get the most airtime, instead of those of the women who have bravely come forth to talk about their experiences?

The University of British Columbia University Sexual Assault Panel's report, which provides recommendations for both the university's stand-alone policy as well as their sexual assault action plan, goes to President Martha Piper today, and it will have its public release at a date soon to be determined.

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To the members of the Conservative caucus who voted against M-444, the National Action Plan to End Violence against Women,

There's no doubt that you've heard, in the past year, about the numerous incidents of sexual violence and harassment faced by women in this country. You've heard about former CBC radio host Jian Ghomeshi, who has now been charged with several counts of sexual and physical assault. You've heard about the misogynist Facebook group started by thirteen male students of the 2015 Dalhousie Dentistry class.

"What is the one book to break barriers?" 

This was the question posed during this year's Canada Reads competition, CBC's annual "literary title fight." After four days of passionate debate about "books that can change perspectives, challenge stereotypes, and illuminate issues" -- including some palpably shocking eliminations -- the five celebrity panelists ultimately selected Kim Thúy's Ru (translated by Sheila Fischman) as this year's winner.

[Content warning: descriptions of sexual and physical violence.]

What is the cost of sexual violence? For players from the University of Ottawa men's varsity hockey team, it's about six million dollars. Sought through a class-action lawsuit against the university and its president, Allan Rock, the players are seeking damages, alleging that their reputations and athletic careers were harmed by the cancellation of this year’s hockey season.

It's easy to believe that life on college and university campuses is some sort of haven of mutual inquiry and shared values. From the glossy admissions catalogues filled with photographs of laughing students, to the collective cheers of cap-throwing graduates, academia often seems fairly idyllic. Campuses are advertised to be places where there can be heated debates, divergent political opinions, and fierce rivalries, but where students and faculty nevertheless gather -- wrapped in their bold school colours, with Latin mottos about change and inspiration ringing in their ears -- to learn how to make the world a better place together.