Universities UK reveal recommendations for tackling on-campus sexual violence

Universities UK (UUK) have released their recommendations to universities on how to better deal with sexual violence on campus.

The report – created by a specific taskforce set up for this purpose – covers university student issues to do with violence against women, harassment and hate crime, and particularly how universities should respond to them.

The aim of the taskforce was to provide an updated guide for universities to reference when it comes in particular to sexual violence on campus – many universities have still been following the highly controversial 1994 Zellick Report, which University of Warwick Vice-Chancellor, Stuart Croft, recently condemned.

The recommendations highlight the culture universities should embody to create a zero-tolerance environment on their campuses.

They also say universities should provide clear reporting and recording systems – in direct contrast to the Zellick Guidelines, which state this is the police’s job – and make obvious the potential disciplinary procedures for any incidents that take place.

The report and recommendations were circulated to all universities in the UK.

The taskforce was set up by UUK in November 2015, with these recommendations coming in October 2016, 11 months after it was formed, and despite an aim of September 2016 so that publishing coincided with the beginning of the 2016/17 academic year.

Included on the taskforce were various members of high-level staff from universities across the UK, as well as Nicola Dandridge, the Chief Executive of UUK and Chair of the taskforce.

Dandridge commented: “The university sector has been clear that there is no place for sexual violence, harassment or hate crime on a university campus, nor anywhere else.

“The impact of any such incident on a student is so potentially serious that universities must be ready to respond effectively and proactively engage in prevention initiatives.”

She continued: “It is clear that these issues are not isolated to universities and reflect behaviours in society generally, including in schools and local communities. UK universities, however, have a significant role to play, and are in a position to lead the way in preventing and responding to violence against women, harassment and hate crime, beyond the boundaries of the university campus.”

Meanwhile, Chloe Wynne, Welfare Officer at Warwick Students’ Union (SU), stated: “As a starting point, I think this report is positive. It codifies what campaigners have pushed for for a considerable period of time: a review and repeal of the Zellick guidelines; the removal of police involvement unless consent is given by the survivor; a review of complaints and disciplinary procedures.

“I think we must only see this as a starting point, though – one of the big oversights of Zellick was that HEIs weren’t really told what to do with it. To be effective and deal with the issue sufficiently, these recommendations need to be implemented (sounds obvious, doesn’t it?), which is one of my major concerns with it.”

Chloe continued: “This will have been a lot of wasted efforts and dashed hopes if nothing actually gets done with it. I am pleased to say that Stuart Croft is keen on Warwick being an ‘early adopter’, but nationally I worry for other HEIs. I look forward to the 3rd November Conference and will be raising my concerns.

You can read the report in full here.