VANCOUVER -- The University of B.C. will be hiring a full-time sexual assault counsellor despite the idea being rejected by commerce students in a referendum last week, the dean of the school of business said Monday.

Robert Helsley said he was hopeful the Commerce Undergraduate Society would contribute more than the $50,000 it has already pledged for the new position. He said even if they don’t, the Sauder School of Business and UBC would contribute enough money to cover the $200,000 cost of the position to 2016.

“I am very confident that the CUS want to contribute to positive change,” he said at a news conference on the 9th floor of the business school at UBC.

“The new counselling position will be created. If the school has to bear the entire cost, then it will. We feel that his provides much needed counselling resources for the university as a whole.”

On Friday, the CUS released referendum results that showed students rejected spending $200,000 on a sexual assault counsellor: 245 students voted for the initiative, 570 voted against. Voter turnout was 25.8 per cent.

Helsley said he was disappointed by the referendum results. He said he is personally committed to improving the environment in the business school for all students.

“I want to emphasize as dean of the school I am personally and strongly committed to ensuring that we are able to make changes in the culture here which will create a much more positive and respect environment for our students,” he said.

Leaders of the CUS pledged money to expand sexual assault services at the university after reports of a rape-chant being sung in September at the business school during frosh week. Under the society’s rules, the leadership of the CUS could approve spending $50,000 for the new sexual assault position in 2013-2014 but had to go to students in a referendum to approve combined spending of $200,000 for the years 2014-15 and 2015-2016.

Following the rape-chant incident, the Sauder School of Business has pledged to make various changes. They include: developing a new student orientation program to replace the previous CUS-led Frosh Week events; changing the curriculum to address social justice, ethics, gender and cultural issues and their role in corporate social responsibility; initiating training for the CUS leadership with the Alma Mater Society Sexual Assault Support Centre.

kevingriffin@vancouversun.com