Last week Rachel Marsden issued a press release in response to the one issued by SFU regarding its review of several harassment cases. As reported last week in The Peak, SFU president Jack Blaney has stated that the university will pay Liam Donnelly's outstanding legal fees.

Donnelly, a swim coach, was fired last summer for the alleged sexual harassment of student Rachel Marsden. Donnelly was later reinstated when an external mediator found procedural errors in the university's investigation of the case. Despite the reinstatement, the SFU administration's findings that Donnelly was guilty have not been nullified. In order for this to occur the case would have to be reheard.

Marsden said that she did not request a review of the case because she is satisfied with the panel's original findings, that Donnelly was guilty of sexual harassment. SFU president Jack Blaney said that in order for a harassment case to be re-heard both parties would have to agree on a review.

In her statement, Marsden emphasizes that Donnelly's reinstatement has not vindicated him of sexual harassment. She points out that media coverage of the reinstatement calls into question her credibility even though her case has not been revisited.

"All I really wanted was accountability out of this process... for three independent people to hear my case and to find in my favour and to say 'yes we believe you'... and if that's all I have to hold onto to this day, then that's good enough," said Marsden, adding that she would not want to go through the whole process again because of technicalities in the original procedure.

The university has said that there was evidence presented during mediation which cast doubt on Marsden's credibility, but Marsden says she was not informed as to what this evidence was. Marsden adds "the university would be looking for any excuse to sugar coat his reinstatement... so it would be more acceptable." Marsden questions whether the university would have been able to justify Donnelly's reinstatement on technical issues alone.

In regards to the new harassment policy Marsden says, "I hope that people just look out for themselves and try not to have to go through this and use the [harassment] policy." She adds that she does not have any faith in the process, even with the new harassment policy.

When asked how she would have handled the situation differently, Marsden said that she does not want to dwell on the past, but that she wishes she had been more educated about the policy and the complaint process.

Despite the media attention this case has garnered, the original decision that Liam Donnelly is guilty of sexual harassment has not changed. However, the case has been played out in the media in a way which seems to point to his innocence. Marsden says she believes the media's handling of the issue has been very biased against her.

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