Redeemer University says it needs more time to deliver report promised after student death
CBC
WARNING: This story contains references to suicide and may be distressing for some readers.
Redeemer University's mental health task force, set up in the wake of a transgender student's death, says it needs more time to finalize a report and recommendations that many are hoping will improve support for students, especially in the LGBTQ community.
The report and recommendations were initially expected April 30 but will now be up to a month late, the university said.
"The mental health task force has requested more time to report back to the student advisory groups who contributed to the process and to finalize their recommendations," Shannon McBride, spokesperson for the private, Reformed Christian university, said in an email on May 1.
"Redeemer plans to share the outcomes of the process with the campus community and will determine any additional communications after receiving the report."
She said it will take two or four more weeks.
The task force was created after 34-year-old student Bekett Noble died inside the school on Nov. 23, 2022.
Noble was a fourth-year psychology student at Redeemer University who was non-binary and used they and them pronouns.
They were also a prominent advocate at Redeemer and co-founded Genesis, an unofficial student group on campus promoting LGBTQ+ awareness.
An email Noble sent to the university leadership shortly before their death obtained by CBC Hamilton indicated Noble felt the school didn't adequately support LGBTQ+ students.
The school cancelled classes the day Noble died and offered counselling services. It also lowered its flag both at the time of Noble's death on Nov. 24 until after a memorial service on campus.
Flags also lowered on Dec. 10 in recognition of an off-campus celebration of life organized by Noble's friends.
Earlier this year, the City of Hamilton said it would examine its contractual agreements with Redeemer, after Hamilton's LGBTQ advisory committee urged the city to review its funding to the school and whether the school adheres to a city policy on gender identity and expression.
Meaghan Markettos, a close friend of Noble's in Hamilton who has been in contact with Noble's family, said she has "cautious skepticism and a little bit of hope" about the situation.