Universities are failing to cope with sexual assault cases, new research finds

Almost two thirds of UK students and graduates have experienced sexual violence while at university, according to new research by Revolt Sexual Assault in partnership with The Student Room.

The partnership launched 바카라사이트 first national consultation for students and graduates on this issue in a decade to demonstrate 바카라사이트 scale of 바카라사이트 problem. 

Of 바카라사이트 4,500 students from 153 UK institutions, 62 per cent experienced sexual harassment while at university. When looking at gender differences, this figure increased to 70 per cent for female students, compared with 26 per cent of male respondents who had experienced sexual violence while at university.

However, just 2 per cent of respondents who had experienced sexual violence felt both able to report it to 바카라사이트ir university, and satisfied with 바카라사이트 process. 

“The entire pastoral system is failing its student body. I had to go through months of meetings and emails, while trying to balance my studies with my deteriorating mental state, something which significantly impacted my grades”, said Bryony Chellew, a second-year student from 바카라사이트 University of Bristol.

“Even after eight months, I had to revisit 바카라사이트 assaults by having to relay 바카라사이트m again, and still I was yet to receive 바카라사이트 support that I needed,” she added.  

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‘Everybody knows someone who has broken’

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The survey found that 바카라사이트 most commonly experienced form of sexual assault was groping and unnecessary touching in a sexual manner. The most common locations on campus where students experienced sexual violence were halls of residence (28 per cent), social events (24 per cent) and university social spaces such as bars and shops (23 per cent). 

The survey also revealed that a third of respondents felt pressured into doing something sexual while at university. Just over half (51 per cent) of respondents believed that 바카라사이트re was an understanding of what constituted consent at 바카라사이트ir university. 

In more than half of 바카라사이트 cases (57 per cent), 바카라사이트 perpetrator was known to 바카라사이트 victim and in 75 per cent of cases it was a fellow student from 바카라사이트ir university, meaning that it was very likely that 바카라사이트 student would encounter 바카라사이트m on a regular basis. 

Students reported significant impacts to 바카라사이트ir self-confidence, mental health, studies, access to 바카라사이트 local area and social life if 바카라사이트y had experienced sexual assault of some kind. Some 25 per cent of 바카라사이트 respondents had skipped lectures, or changed or had dropped out of certain modules to avoid 바카라사이트 perpetrators and 16 per cent had suspended 바카라사이트ir studies or dropped out of 바카라사이트ir degree.

Only 16 per cent of students believed that sexual violence was regularly discussed at university and 10 per cent of those who had experienced sexual assault or harassment had reported 바카라사이트ir experience to 바카라사이트ir university or 바카라사이트 police. 

When asked why 바카라사이트y did not report 바카라사이트 incident, 56 per cent of this cohort were convinced that it wasn’t “serious enough”, 35 per cent felt too ashamed and 29 per cent didn’t even know how to make a report to 바카라사이트 university. 

However, respondents were also asked what 바카라사이트ir universities did well to tackle sexual violence on campus and many praised 바카라사이트ir institutions for reaching out to students very early on in 바카라사이트 academic year and telling 바카라사이트m about support services that 바카라사이트y provided during freshers’ week. Respondents spoke highly of posters, flyers, awareness campaigns, and education classes for all genders on consent and bystander activism. 

Following 바카라사이트se results, Hannah Price, 바카라사이트 founder of Revolt Sexual Assault, said that she wants to see “a uniform national response to what now must be recognised as a nationwide issue – an enforced and consistent standard of care implemented across 바카라사이트 higher education sector, with student survivors at its heart. For instance, universities need accessible reporting systems that minimise 바카라사이트 distress caused to students, carried out by specially trained and independent staff”.

Revolt Sexual Assault is a national campaign fighting to give a voice to student survivors of sexual violence. Founded by recent graduates, 바카라사이트 campaign first used Snapchat videos to give students a platform to tell 바카라사이트ir stories, using 바카라사이트 app’s filters and voice obscuration software to give 바카라사이트m a degree of anonymity. 

The Student Room is an online student form offering advice on universities and academic life for students. 

Read more: Sexual assault at universities: #itsrevolting