We’ve been alarmed at recent reports of sexual harassment and offensive scandals occurring in Australian universities.
Last week, Fairfax reported that sexual harassment and misbehaviour runs rampant across two of the University of Sydney’s residential colleges.
Meanwhile, a Sydney University study has found that almost 25 per cent of respondents reported they had experienced some form of assault, sexual harassment or other unacceptable behaviours while at university.
More than one million students are currently enrolled in Australian universities. None of them should have to feel unsafe, vulnerable or uncomfortable in a place of study — a place that’s ultimately about creating opportunity. No ‘initiation’ ceremonies or entertainment activities should ever humiliate or mistreat women (or anybody).
So we’re pleased to see a number of immediate initiatives to help address the issue.
The first is that the University of Sydney has appointed former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick to lead a taskforce to help address the issue within its independent residential colleges. Broderick brings plenty of experience to the role, having led major investigations into gender discrimination at the Australian Defence Force, as well as serving eight years as commissioner. The university’s Vice Chancellor Dr Michael Spence said the scandals have “been a thorn in our flesh” and that he’s invited the heads of the college councils to meet with Broderick to determine how the concerns can be addressed. Meanwhile, Fairfax reports the university is also considering the introduction of a mandatory “university citizenship” course for first-year undergraduate students.
The second major initiative is that The Australian Human Rights Commission has announced it is conducting a nation-wide confidential survey of university students on sexual harassment and sexual assault.
Conducted later this year by Roy Morgan, it aims to help determine the prevalence of harassment and assault in universities as well as student knowledge regarding available support services on campus.
“Most importantly it will help identify the effectiveness of the universities’ responses to a range of incidents, so that they can keep improving their systems,” said Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said in a statement. “Recent incidents on campus and in residential colleges have highlighted that young people are sometimes subjected to abuse and mistreatment … What we can’t be sure about is the extent of the problem, and this survey will help in quantifying it.”
Thirty nine universities are supporting and funding the research, and the AHRC will work with student representative bodies and university leadership teams to encourage students to participate. It will build on earlier work the Commission’s conducted with the ADF to help change its culture on the treatment of women.
These are the first steps in what will be a long, yet very important, process in ensuring our universities are free from discrimination and harassment.