Sexual violence campaign group ‘Warwick RIOT’ stages campus protest

Student campaign group ‘Warwick RIOT’ has staged a demonstration in the Students’ Union (SU) to protest a ‘rape culture’ on campus.

From approximately 6pm on Wednesday 25 September, the group staged a protest around central campus, having announced the event via Instagram as a piazza ‘sit-in’ two days prior.

The group described their mission as “holding perpetrators of sexual violence accountable at Warwick University” and confirmed their “intentional” choice to disrupt Freshers’ Week events and maximise visibility.

The demonstration was small in number with approximately 15 to 20 participants, but armed with a megaphone, did manage to cause some disruption in the SU atrium to students at the Terrace Bar (TBar).

Chants urged the University and Students’ Union to take steps to “End Rape Culture” and abolish the use of NDAs

One onlooker remarked that it was “good to raise awareness of issues around consent at Warwick”, whilst another described the protest as “unclear [in its aims]” and “pretty ineffective”.

Following a brief period in the SU atrium, the group braved the heavy rain and headed outside. Chants urged the University and Students’ Union to take steps to “End Rape Culture” and abolish the use of NDAs (non-disclosure agreements). The University was approached for comment on their usage in disciplinary cases.

Days after the protest, on 30 September, all students were invited by the University to complete a four-minute online course on ‘the importance of consent at Warwick’.

The protest comes just three years after Protect Warwick Women’s piazza encampment, and six years after the explosive ‘Rape Chat’ scandal in which the effectiveness of the University’s sexual misconduct procedures were called into question.

One protester […] shared her experience of having her testimony dismissed as “insufficient” twice […] despite having, what she recounted as, the story of the “perfect victim”

In conversation with The Boar, one protester, a victim of sexual violence at the University, shared her experience of having her testimony dismissed as “insufficient” twice by Warwick’s disciplinary team, despite having, what she recounted as, the story of the “perfect victim”.

The group additionally conveyed distrust for the SU’s processes: “I was told not to trust the SU”, explained one student. They also emphasised particular issues around sexism and sexual violence within sports clubs at Warwick.

Warwick RIOT’s demands include replacing the University’s Report + Support system with a procedure designed “exclusively for sexual misconduct cases”. Additionally, the group advocated for the introduction of “compulsory, in-person workshops” on sexual violence for both staff and students, as well as greater transparency around the University’s sanctioning process.

Their final demands stipulated the implementation of a “First Response” action plan and “reformed policing” of sexual predators on campus.

Every student has a right to question and challenge systems if they don’t work for them, and we will do our best to support you and take your cause further

Enaya Nihal, SU President

Responding to these demands, Enaya Nihal, SU President, expressed support for some of the proposals, saying: “It would be great if the University could eventually hold in-person workshops on preventing sexual violence for all incoming students and staff members.”

She continued: “The active bystander program is a great example that our society and club exec members do regularly. Implementing it (or an equivalent to Warwick Values) on a larger scale would only bolster our commitment to eradicating rape culture on campus, even if it would require a lot of resources.

“We fought to get Report + Support on campus as an SU because it could support victims where the previous reporting system would not. If students think it could be improved or if something is missing, we urge them to reach out to us so we can look at how we can improve the support system.”

She further noted that the SU has been taking significant steps to combat sexual violence at Warwick through the ‘Safer Warwick’ survey and campaign. Actions stemming from the survey have included the SU-run women and non-binary students’ Self-Defence Classes, certifying venues for Egalitarian’s Safe Place Project, welfare and disclosure training to societies and sports club execs, the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, better lighting across campus and around accommodations, and a Safe Space in Leamington Spa.

On the notion that survivors of sexual violence might not trust the SU, she said: “We treat all complaints with the utmost seriousness and have a robust process in place to deal with complaints.

“I would urge anyone with concerns about the SU to reach out to us, so we can listen to the issue and figure out what we can do to support you. Every student has a right to question and challenge systems if they don’t work for them, and we will do our best to support you and take your cause further.”