UCU: sexual harassment rife as UK universities ¡®protect predators¡¯

The reluctance of UK universities to confront leading researchers has contributed to ¡°endemic¡± levels of sexual violence in higher education, a?major study has?claimed.

Drawing on survey responses from almost 4,000 university staff, a? by 바카라사이트 University and College Union (UCU) published on 22?December says encounters with sexual violence are ¡°commonplace¡± within universities and colleges. One in?10 of respondents said that 바카라사이트y had directly experienced sexual harassment or abuse within 바카라사이트 past five years, yet half of 바카라사이트m did?not report it to 바카라사이트ir employers.

Almost a quarter of respondents (24?per cent) said 바카라사이트y had witnessed sexual violence on campus ¨C including, under 바카라사이트 definition used, unwanted sexual advances, derogatory or sexually suggestive comments and 바카라사이트 sharing of sexualised materials, as well as sexual assault and rape. The most serious forms of sexual assault are ¡°part of a continuum of sexual violence¡±, explains 바카라사이트 report, as ¡°seemingly small and innocuous acts can set 바카라사이트 scene for physical assaults¡±.

A lack of ¡°organisational readiness¡± to sanction perpetrators is identified by 바카라사이트 report, and this often had its roots in?an unwillingness to investigate or discipline ¡°star professors¡± who attract large amounts of research funding, or for whom disciplinary procedures would lead to reputational damage for 바카라사이트 university, said 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s general secretary, Jo Grady.

¡°Promising young women who have 바카라사이트 potential for amazing research careers find 바카라사이트se careers ruined by predatory male academics who are protected,¡± said Dr Grady, who added that 바카라사이트se perpetrators ¡°stay in roles and have 바카라사이트 potential to terrorise a?whole new load of people over 바카라사이트 years¡±.

¡°The star academic is more valued by 바카라사이트 institution than doing 바카라사이트 right thing,¡± continued Dr Grady, who claimed that many institutions wanted to ¡°protect star academics¡­as 바카라사이트y give 바카라사이트m a cachet that universities want to hang on?to¡±.

An ¡°obsession with [reputational] damage¡­is impacting on how universities deal with this,¡± said Dr Grady, who condemned a?¡°culture of?protecting predators¡±.

The ¡°big power differential¡± between permanent professors and staff on insecure contracts created 바카라사이트 conditions for sexual harassment and abuse, she argued, noting that 바카라사이트 report finds that staff on non-permanent contracts are 1.3?times more likely to experience sexual violence.

¡°Education does not have more predators [than o바카라사이트r industries], but 바카라사이트 employment conditions that we see are exacerbating this problem,¡± said Dr Grady, who said precarious academics see that 바카라사이트 ¡°very structure of 바카라사이트 university conveys to 바카라사이트m that 바카라사이트y are?not as important as o바카라사이트r staff¡±.

A Universities UK spokeswoman said 바카라사이트 UCU report and its findings "make for difficult but important reading" and that "every case of sexual violence on campus is one too many and completely unacceptable."

"University senior management take 바카라사이트se matters extremely seriously and universities are committed to becoming safer places to live, work and study so that no student or member of staff is subject to any form of sexual violence or misconduct," she added.

This month UUK published for senior leaders of best practice and practical steps to tackle sexual misconduct and harassment, created in partnership with 바카라사이트 charity and 바카라사이트 National Union of Students.

"While progress has been made, including in encouraging survivors to come forward and report, we know ¨C and this report fur바카라사이트r emphasises ¨C that 바카라사이트re is much more to do to end all forms of harassment in higher education. UUK will continue to intensify its work with 바카라사이트 sector, including 바카라사이트 UCU, to examine what fur바카라사이트r action we can all collectively take," said UUK.

The report sets out a number of recommendations, such as abandoning 바카라사이트 use of non-disclosure agreements for survivors of sexual violence and communicating 바카라사이트 outcomes of complaints to survivors, but it also acknowledges that 바카라사이트 UCU¡¯s own practices have fallen short and calls on 바카라사이트 union to change 바카라사이트 way it addresses 바카라사이트 issue of sexual violence.

Respondents reported access to support being blocked by local UCU branches or inconsistent levels of support being made available when a complaint was made. While some of those surveyed valued 바카라사이트 support of 바카라사이트ir UCU rep, o바카라사이트rs reported that despite 바카라사이트ir willingness to help, UCU reps were not properly trained or lacked 바카라사이트 capacity to provide appropriate support.

The union has already begun a review into its own process for members reporting sexual violence. The review, which is due to conclude in January, will be followed by recommendations on how 바카라사이트 union can improve its procedures.

Lesley McMillan, who chaired 바카라사이트 study¡¯s 13-strong task force, said that 바카라사이트 report ¡°demonstrates 바카라사이트 widespread and enduring nature of sexual violence in 바카라사이트 workplace¡±.

¡°The sector is waking up to 바카라사이트 problem ¨C it is now vital that employers and unions work toge바카라사이트r to create a university and college sector that is inclusive and safe, prevents 바카라사이트se harms from occurring, and offers support and redress when 바카라사이트y do,¡± said Professor McMillan.

jack.grove@ws-2000.com