As some of you now know, it has been a few months now since the members of the Facebook group ’Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen’ graduated from Dalhousie University. Some of them have already been licensed and have found employment. In brief, despite a formal complaint filed by four Dalhousie University professors, an open letter written by four women from the DDS Class of 2015 supporting this formal complaint and an obvious public outcry, Dalhousie University chose a non transparent Restorative Justice path effectively ignoring the public, its professors and some of the victims themselves. The formal complaint can be found here: http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/dalhousie-board-backs-schools-handling-of-dentistry-scandal/article22376542/ In the open letter, four female students from the Dalhousie Dentistry School Class of 2015 clearly express that they support this formal complaint, feel pressured into the Restorative Justice path and fear attaching their names to a formal complaint as they believe it will negatively impact their academic success and future: “ Dear President Florizone: Dalhousie held an information session led by Melissa MacKay and Jennifer Llewellyn on January5, 2015 about the restorative justice process that Dalhousie has elected to pursue to address complaints brought to the University regarding posts on the Facebook group “Class of DDS 2015 Gentlemen”. This was the first time that all of the women in our class (including many who are“directly affected”)were asked whether or not we consented to participate in this process,despite what you have been telling the media. We are writing this open letter to inform you that, after considering the information that was presented in that meeting, we do not wish for the sexual harassment and discrimination perpetrated by members of our class to be dealt with through this restorative justice process or under the Sexual Harassment Policy. We feel that the University is pressuring us into this process, silencing our views, isolating us from our peers, and discouraging us from choosing to proceed formally. This has perpetuated our experience of discrimination. This approach falls far below what we expected from you, and what we believe we deserve. Telling us that we can either participate in restorative justice or file a formal complaint is presenting us with a false choice. We have serious concerns about the impact of filing formal complaints on our chances of academic success at the Faculty of Dentistry, and believe that doing so would jeopardize our futures.” Please consider reading the full open letter which can be found here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/251926270/Open-Letter-to-President-Richard-Florizone There has been much debate over many of the details in this situation such as the appropriateness on the use of Restorative Justice to deal with matters of sexual harassment, the short amount of time that it took for the members of the Facebook group to rid themselves of what can be deeply engrained views and behaviours, the hiring of National Public Relations, a public relations company, by Dalhousie to deal with the matter, the fact that one of the Facebook group’s posts included a photograph from a patient from its own dental clinic, the apology letter written by the 13 students which seems to focus more on the ordeal they have gone through than the ordeal they’ve caused others, Dalhousie’s inability to provide a safe learning environment, and much much more. All of these issues are recognized, but in order to keep this last update relatively short, they won’t be analyzed here. Ultimately, by choosing a closed and non-transparent process, Dalhousie left the public (Dalhousie students, patients of Dalhousie’s dental clinic, Dalhousie employees, members of dental associations, members of the community at large and many more) without the ability to assess whether or not they can again place their trust in these 13 students as dental professionals. It’s as if Dalhousie is asking the public to place their trust in them, the closed process and these 13 students blindly. The list of the alleged names of these 13 students has been made public and it’s not with little thought that I have chosen to provide a link to it:. http://pastebin.com/NRQBv4LM I firmly believe that health care professionals or those seeking to become them must be held to the highest standards of ethics, as most would agree. Until licensing bodies and the Universities who graduate them can do a better job at handling clear cases of misconduct and protecting the public; the public must be empowered with the information needed to decide for and protect themselves. A few of the latest misconduct cases can be read here: http://www.thestar.com/news/crime/2015/05/28/vaughan-dentist-charged-with-sexual-assault.html here: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/labrador-doctor-facing-allegations-of-sexual-misconduct-1.3161817 and here: http://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/halifax-doctor-suspended-six-months-for-alleged-misconduct-during-pap-exam-1.2593641 I thank you immensely for your time and your signatures. Rest assured that each and every signature, just as every conversation and social media post condemning this type of behaviour, was not only refreshing to many eyes and ears but the fuel to empower many more to speak out and create change. Together we have said: there is no room for misogyny in Canada and it will not be tolerated. Lastly, I’d like to invite you to visit my page: https://www.gofundme.com/meghanactivism where I hope to update you on the projects I am currently working on and where you can help me accomplish them if you so wish to. Please consider reading a little bit about who I am and my passion to see all Canadians live a safe life, free of fear, oppression and discrimination; and with as many opportunities as possible to succeed. Please too bear in mind that it's a newly created page so continue to come back for more updates. Thank you again. Sincerely, Meghan