“A National Crisis”: Advocacy Group Receives Over 100 Sexual Harassment Complaints In Three Days
A new report is encouraging students to speak up about sexual harassment on campus.
On Monday, advocacy group End Rape On Campus (EROC) released a groundbreaking report detailing the horrific extent of sexual assault, harassment and hazing taking place at university colleges around the country. Three days later, the organisation has received over 100 disclosures of similar abuse from students around the country.
Nina Funnell, one of the co-authors of Monday’s The Red Zone report, said the flood of responses pointed to a “national crisis” of sexual assault and harassment at university colleges.
“The sheer volume of emails from both men and women regarding hazing at colleges including St John’s College, Sancta Sophia, St Andrews, Wesley and St Paul’s as well as various colleges in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria especially are disturbing,” she said.
“We have been inundated with disclosure and we are gradually sifting through the dozens of accounts of hazing and assault.”
In the days since the report’s release, documents released under Freedom of Information legislation have also revealed that the University of Western Australia has investigated 33 allegations of sexual harassment and assault in just five years, adding further support to suggestions that sexual harassment is out of control at universities around the nation.
In response to the Monday’s report, student representatives have launched a renewed campaign to protest university and college inaction on sexual assault. Presidents of student unions around the country have participated in a photo campaign holding signs bearing the assault statistics for their universities, and messages of support for survivors.
The signs include messages like “We stand with the silenced”, “Universities are covering up rape — but we will not be silent”, and “[USyd Women’s Collective] has had enough”. The University of Sydney’s student-run Women’s Collective plan to hold a protest on campus today, one of many they’ve held to call attention to the issue of campus sexual assault in recent years.
“The voices of survivors and student activists have always been the real drivers of change on this issue,” The Red Zone report co-author Anna Hush said today, saying that EROC will “stand with survivors, now and always, in calling for an upheaval of the entire college system.”
“Students are saying loud and clear that it’s time for change”.
The full The Red Zone report is now available online here.
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If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au. In an emergency, call 000.
Men can access anonymous confidential telephone counselling to help to stop using violent and controlling behaviour through the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491.
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Feature image shows University of Sydney Students’ Representative Council Women’s Officers Jessica Syed and Madeline Ward. Supplied by EROC.