This is a follow up post to my initial story of my experiences of sexual harassment at university. If you haven’t read it yet you can find it here.
I am spending this summer on the other side of the world, at Korea University in Seoul, jumping head first into a culture that is completely new to me. The first shock: gender segregated halls where if you so much as step into the wrong elevator, you risk suspension for entering the lands of the opposite sex. Following this ridiculous set up, I was pleasantly surprised by how they treat sexual harassment here.
The orientation for the first day of the summer school, in which all students attend, involved a presentation from the Centre of Gender Equality about sexual harassment and violence. The presentation not only spelled out what sexual harassment and violence are, but told us how to get help and deal with friends who have experienced it. The centre offers help and action for victims of sexual harassment at university. As a victim, you can report the incident, which is followed up by an investigation and counselling, ultimately resulting in punishment for the perpetrator.
The simple fact that a body exists at the university to support this is great; nothing of the sort exists at Nottingham, sexual crimes almost seem a taboo. What makes this seem even better is the fact that all students were required to listen to the specifics when they arrive, making them much more prepared if they found themselves in such a position. It also educates potential perpetrators, spelling out what is and isn’t appropriate; something my harasser failed to understand. For me as a victim in the UK, this Centre would have been a godsend: not only would I have received the support psychologically, but the preventative measures may have meant that my ordeal would not have happened in the first place.
Unfortunately, I have unable to find statistics regarding the rates of sexual harassment and violence at British and Korean universities. Regardless, a body like this is so necessary for British universities. Even if it is not preventative or a perfect solution, its pure existence as an institution within the university as somewhere that provides support and solutions for victims is amazing to me. Student satisfaction is so important to universities, and for me personally, something like this would have made my ordeal a lot easier. I pay £9k a year, surely I deserve the support I need to ensure my university experience is as smooth as possible, rather than gaining memories I would rather forget. Seriously Nottingham, get your shit together.
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