12 May The student protection policy at London South Bank University classified as ‘basic’, Jordan Platt investigates.
Sexual harassment, assault, and violence towards other students within the UK, by their peers, is on the increase, and support currently provided by London South Bank University (LSBU) for attending students that fall victim to such acts is poor, this investigation suggests.
Under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 sexual assault is a criminal offence, and can be committed by either sex, and although sexual harassment isn’t covered under this act, it is classified as a form of unlawful discrimination under the Equality Act 2010.
The Telegraph reported that a third of UK female students have experienced a form of sexual assault during their time at University, and the information provided by charities, such as Rape Crisis, throughout the UK, suggests the same.
Two victims of sexual assault at LSBU have come forward to describe their experience. To protect their identity, when quoting them, the names James and Sophie will be used. James described his experience as “terrifying” and when the incident occurred, the way in which the incident was dealt with, he claims, was “incredibly unprofessional. I’d just been through what I wouldn’t wish on anyone. A man assaulted me in a phone box outside of my University halls, and when reporting it to the police, I felt as though I was inconveniencing the hall ambassadors on duty, and no one asked me about how I was dealing with the situation the day after. No help, absolutely none.”
Sexual harassment on campus’, within the digital age, can take many different forms, from ‘revenge porn’, where students reveal indecent photographs of their ‘conquests’ online to taking advantage of a peer in an inebriated state. With the consistent rise of social media, with new platforms such as Snapchat, and Instagram stories becoming popular, it’s easier now more than ever for an individual to take photographic evidence of their one night stands and post it online for everyone to see for only a short period of time, with all evidence eradicating itself after a 24-hour period.
Students who attend London South Bank University (LSBU), suggested that this form of sexual harassment is the most common, due to a lack of knowledge of where the boundary between humour and harassment lies. “I didn’t quite understand what was wrong with posting a photo of a girl I’d slept with on Snapchat for my friends to see, as I thought it was just banter, but when I saw how upset she was the next morning, I took it down and felt real guilty,” said a third-year student, who we will name Jason, due to him wishing for his identity to remain anonymous, studying at LSBU’s National Bakery School.
Sophie, a 2nd year student studying a media-related course said, “I woke up with a boy I had met the night before at a Uni event having sex with me. I didn’t know what to do so I just let it happen, and I had no idea how to report. So I haven’t.”
In reference to this, James said, “it’s not that I didn’t know how to report it, although I didn’t know the procedure at Uni, it was more about not feeling comfortable enough with the staff to do so.”
Attendees at London South Bank University have stated that they believe the services provided by the University in terms of support, and simply the advertising of such services being available, is ‘basic’. Teddie Oates, a second-year Film Practice student had the following to say, “I wouldn’t even know where to start if I had to report anything. I think it could be improved for sure, it’s pretty basic as it is right now.” Amber Steadman, 2nd year student studying Criminology with Law, nodded in agreement stating, “It definitely is basic. I also think people think you’re being overly dramatic if you get irritated by the attention you get from boys, even if you personally feel like it’s too much you know? So I’d feel too awkward saying anything in case the person I reported it to just thought I was making a mountain out of a mole hill.”
Megan Bell, 2nd year student studying Criminology believes the University “just needs to advertise their support services more, and have walk-in sessions, so people feel welcomed and as though they’re entering a safe environment. Students especially, with us being so far away from home and living in London, just want to feel safe.”
London South Bank University have claimed that they do offer support for those in need of it. According to Amy Durden, an LSBU Residence Customer Support Supervisor, “within [University] halls there are several layers of support available. Halls ambassadors provide a front line service alongside security.”
“I provide a weekend service so that if a student has been the victim of an assault there is someone to speak with – out of hours.”
But what if you’re a student and a member of staff? A student, who’s anonymity will remain intact, and refused to comment on the situation, is also a member of staff at LSBU and has suffered sexual harassment from a fellow co-worker, who has been cleared of all charges due to a lack of evidence, and must continue to work with the accused.
Rosie Holden, Head of Wellbeing at LSBU said, “we offer support to all LSBU students who have experienced sexual violence of any kind at any time, whether it is immediately after a sexual assault or sexual harassment, or in the weeks, months or years after the incident has occurred. Our offer of support does not expire with the passing of time, and students can contact us for support at any point during their studies with us.”
At Roehampton University, The Feminist Society began protesting for a dedicated member of staff in regard to dealing with sexual assault and harassment on campus by placing underwear around the campus featuring quotes from sexual assault survivors. When asked about how LSBU plan on increasing the awareness around sexual assault and attending to the complaints made by LSBU students in this investigation about the ‘basic’ support currently provided, Professor Shan Wareing, Pro Vice Chancellor for Education and Student Experience, had the following to say:
“We are committed to promoting a safe and supportive environment for every single member of our LSBU community: sexual violence and harassment are intolerable and not accepted here at LSBU. We are working hard to make LSBU safe and have recently received a grant from HEFCE (Higher Education Funding Council for England) for a student safeguarding project focusing on awareness, reporting, and support for students who have experienced sexual assault. I encourage all students and staff to speak up against sexual violence and harassment and feel confident to report incidents and access support if they occur.”
But is offering to improve support in the future enough? “They need to make the support on offer more available to students. Advertise it, hold events, chats, just something to let students know they’re not alone if something does happen to them. This isn’t a joke, it’s serious, and a real issue right now,” said Sophie.
According to statistics produced by Rape Crisis UK, ‘85,000 women and 12,000 men are raped in England and Wales alone every year; that’s roughly 11 rapes (of adults alone) every hour,’ and only 15% file police reports. A statistic that needs to be acknowledged by Universities, not only in London, but the whole of the UK.
No prosecutions have been made against staff at London South Bank University.
Rosie Holden commented about improving the support at LSBU, saying “LSBU has recently received funding for a student safeguarding project. I really, really welcome the thoughts and experiences of students to help develop our support and response to sexual assault and would like to invite students to work with us on this important project.”
If you would like to get involved in the Student Safeguard Project currently underway at LSBU to improve their services in response to this investigation, then email studentwellbeing@lsbu.ac.uk with the subject ‘hear me’.
The support offered previously to students, under the student protection policy, which after research, this investigation found difficult to uncover online, is basic. Support potentially being provided in the future under new schemes at LSBU seems promising.
“I like that they’re now realising that something needs to be done, and that they’re working to improve their services, because that’s all we want. We want to feel as though we’re protected,” Teddie Oates commented when informed of Holden’s response.
“Finally. I guess it’s something,” said James. “I’ll get in touch and get involved, thank you.”
Holden has stated a member of staff at LSBU will be in touch with any students that contact them in response to this article.
If you have any queries, get in touch with the journalist behind this investigation at jordandavidplatt@outlook.com.
