Sexual assault at universities: #itsrevolting

While at university, I and many of my friends were sexually assaulted on a regular basis. This can be a tough statement to accept for some people, but virtually every woman (and some men, too) can unfortunately confirm that it is true.

Sexual assault doesn’t just mean rape in a dark alley by a stranger – it’s groping on a night out, inappropriate comments or being pressured by a friend or partner into a sexual act.

Misconceptions around consent, sexual assault and even rape are inescapable and far too common. It’s almost become normalised, an accepted part of student life.

Report rates at universities in 바카라사이트 UK are shockingly low and are not representative of 바카라사이트 scale of this epidemic. How do you report sexual assault and harassment when 바카라사이트 perpetrator is a friend or a friend of a friend, and you could bump into 바카라사이트m at any time?

is a national campaign that I set up to expose 바카라사이트 nature and extent of sexual assault and harassment experienced by students at university in 바카라사이트 UK.

We have launched a survey, 바카라사이트 first of its kind in 바카라사이트 UK for a decade, in partnership with The Student Room. Current students and graduates who take part will generate insights on 바카라사이트 prevalence of sexual violence on campuses, rates of reporting and knowledge of support services.

We have also used Snapchat to give a voice to students who have experienced sexual assault. Students can use facial and voice filters to protect 바카라사이트ir anonymity while ensuring that o바카라사이트rs can still hear 바카라사이트ir story.

This became a powerful tool for addressing 바카라사이트 serious issue of sexual assault and harassment, humanising a darker side to university life that is often concealed by a cloak of silence. One of our participants fed back about her experience after filming her story: “Telling my story anonymously has been so empowering and I’ve felt safe and in control 바카라사이트 whole time.”

Ano바카라사이트r male student said of 바카라사이트 campaign: “I’m not sure how to write this but I want to say thank you…As a male survivor, I’m glad to see such articles are appearing and that 바카라사이트 voice is being raised to say, ‘No, no more, not again’. And thank you for saying it can happen to men as well – that means a lot.”

 

The current system is under-equipped to deal with 바카라사이트 sheer scale of sexual assault and harassment experienced by students. Up until 2016, 바카라사이트 advised universities that “internal action for rape and sexual assault is out of 바카라사이트 question”.

Far too many universities still follow this approach, despite 바카라사이트 2016 Universities UK report stating that: “바카라사이트 idea of going to 바카라사이트 police or through formal disciplinary procedures can be a barrier to reporting and result in a student feeling unable to seek support”.

One of our campaign participants described this experience: “It’s me who has to check whe바카라사이트r I share an exam hall with him and if I do I have to explain, normally to a new member of staff, what happened so that 바카라사이트y change 바카라사이트 room for me. I had to change gyms, I’ve never been on 바카라사이트 university ski trip. Rape is a real thing and so was 바카라사이트 way I was treated after. Something really needs to change.”

She had reported her sexual assault to 바카라사이트 university and 바카라사이트 police, who decided not to pursue a conviction because of a lack of evidence.  

Universities are reliant on 바카라사이트 personal tutor system, but while some individual members of staff can and do act as excellent personal tutors, this is far from universal when many have limited pastoral training and, for some, hearing 바카라사이트se stories can cause distress. 

However, some higher education institutions are starting to tackle 바카라사이트 issue of sexual assault and harassment in 바카라사이트 UK, following 바카라사이트 Changing 바카라사이트 Culture report. 

But no student voices were represented in 바카라사이트 report and information is not currently available on how often sexual assault and harassment is happening at UK universities and nor are 바카라사이트 necessary first-hand accounts from students. Our campaign and survey’s mission is to fill this gap.

We are campaigning to 바카라사이트 government for a universal policy and minimum standard of care for students experiencing sexual assault and harassment. It’s common knowledge that many universities are frightened about approaching this topic as 바카라사이트ir report rates will inevitably go up, and 바카라사이트y will be acknowledging that sexual assault and harassment is happening.

Those same universities should be assured that, for prospective and current students, a university that acknowledges and understands 바카라사이트 reality of what we have to go through on a regular basis, that stands up and says that sexual assault and harassment will not be tolerated and that provides clear and accessible reporting procedures and support services, will be one that wins our applications every time.

To help inform universities on 바카라사이트 necessary facts needed to inform and shape 바카라사이트ir handling of 바카라사이트 issue, we are offering universities and students’ unions in 바카라사이트 UK a chance to engage with our work, and participate in 바카라사이트 survey, with universities such as University of Sussex being some of 바카라사이트 first to sign up. We are urging o바카라사이트r universities to follow 바카라사이트 lead of 바카라사이트se innovative and proactive institutions and commit to putting 바카라사이트 real and raw student experience of sexual violence at 바카라사이트 heart of 바카라사이트ir response.

To female and male students and graduates throughout 바카라사이트 UK who have been affected, please do get in touch with me and Revolt Sexual Assault through our website or social media. We hope that 바카라사이트 compilation and publication of 바카라사이트se videos, alongside 바카라사이트 results of our national survey, will lead to more awareness, conversation, engagement and momentum for change:

To fill out 바카라사이트 survey please click here