RLT Allegations: mishandling of racist incidents

Allegations surrounding misconduct and negligence in the handling of alleged racist incidents have been brought to light, following a series of allegations made against the Residential Life Team (RLT).

These relate in particular to an incident over Easter, where a student reportedly found racial slurs written on her food.

This follows claims by the victim that she has seen her resident tutor before about racism, but her complaints had not been followed up.

This particular incident reportedly only received university attention after it was posted on social media.

Another reaction to one racist incident last year was for an email to be sent to the offending student informing them that their actions breached the Dignity at Warwick policy. No other action was taken.

Further allegations surround an alleged lack of communication from senior staff to the rest of the RLT.
The Boar was told: “When a significant incident happens on campus, a note is sent to all members of the RLT.

“No communication on the Easter incident has been forthcoming from the senior wardens to the university-wide RLT and [at the time of correspondence] it’s now almost a week since the incident.”

Following questioning by the Boar about this lack of communication, an email was issued by the senior wardens to the university-wide RLT at 4pm on 11 April.

It stated: “As you are aware, the university has a Dignity at Warwick policy”.

“Students and staff can find here an online reporting link to submit complaints. Students and staff in your halls may raise any concerns with you which you should action using the usual RLT process.”

There was no reference to the complaints pathway that staff can signpost students to, and the anonymous reporting tool referenced in the email is not meant for students. There has apparently been no email correcting this mistake.

A staff member spoke about this particular communication to the Boar: “This, for me, reaffirms my views that RLT deliberately ignored the initial report last week and moreover, similar incident reports are not treated with the seriousness that the matter deserves.”

The university’s spokesperson Peter Dunn said: “The university has not received any form of complaint, or any other report, that relates to the statements which [the Boar] allege were made.”

The university also said: “There are, of course, very significant differences between what can be communicated simply and easily in an email when dealing with an incident…where the facts are clear, in comparison to matters which are still subject to formal investigation.”

A different member of staff anonymously commented: “I have been in the RLT for three years and it is disgraceful how such incidents are dealt with.

“There is also a plethora of concerns with the way in which the RLT operates in general.”