Sickening new details have emerged following a serious bullying incident at a prestigious university residence in Sydney.
Ben Fordham revealed new information about the incident at St Paul’s Residential College at the University of Sydney on his 2GB show on Wednesday.
Six male undergraduate students were expelled, and 21 others were suspended.
‘Last Monday, a group of male students from second year at St Paul’s decided to hold a mock trial on a fellow student,’ Fordham said.
‘The group that organised it invited people to attend,’ he said.
Fordham said the ‘trial’ was held in a meeting room on the ground floor.
‘In the Kangaroo Court, there were students posing as judges, defence lawyers and prosecutors.’
Fordham revealed students detailed evidence against the accused and ‘mounted a case’ for the boy to be ‘verbally abused’.
Six male undergraduate students were expelled and 21 others were suspended over the ‘humiliation-type behaviour’ that occurred at St Paul’s College (pictured) last week
It is understood the item used to silence the victim in the mock trial was a gag sex toy purchased at an adult shop
‘At first, I’m told it was lighthearted and the victim was going along with it, but then things started to spiral,’ Fordham said.
‘The student who was playing the judge delivered a guilty verdict.’
‘The victim started to speak and the judge yelled out, “Gag the defendant!”‘
It is understood the item used to silence the victim was a gag sex toy purchased at an adult shop.
‘While the victim was gagged, the mob of sickos verbally abused him and when it was all over, the students cleaned up the meeting room and got on with their day,’ Fordham said.
St Paul’s warden Dr Ed Loane said the college was providing support to the victim.
‘The College has been shocked and deeply disappointed that some of our students engaged in serious bullying of another student within their friendship group,’ Dr Loane said.
‘Our response, upon learning of this and conducting a thorough investigation, has been to expel the perpetrators and suspend the bystanders who failed to intervene.’
He said all students receive training on preventing bullying and harassment when they join the college.
‘We will review and strengthen this training, and we will continue to ensure we are doing everything we can to provide a safe and respectful community.’
Training programs on harassment awareness and prevention and bullying are run by external providers for all new students at the college.
The programs also cover the appropriate use of social media.
Around 420 students attend the college and it is one of six residential colleges at the University of Sydney.
The college became co-educational in 2023.
The warden of St Paul’s College Dr Ed Loane said they will review their existing training programs against bullying and harassment following the incident (pictured stock image)
The institution offers an ‘all-round university experience within a supportive and caring community’ according to their website.
University of Sydney Deputy Vice- Chancellor of Education Professor Joanne Wright told Daily Mail Australia student welfare is the top priority of the university.
Professor Wright said the university is engaging with St Paul’s to ensure that they are taking additional steps to protect student safety and wellbeing.
‘We fully understand the seriousness of the matter and have conveyed our strong disappointment to St Paul’s,’ Professor Wright said.
‘While our affiliated residential colleges are independent, we endeavour to work together closely when issues arise, and our student wellbeing team is offering appropriate support.’
The latest incident comes after a damning review in 2018 by former Sex Discrimination Commissioner Elizabeth Broderik into the culture at St Paul’s.
The report revealed students ate sheep hearts during their initiation and celebrated sporting victories by taking girls to a ‘bone room’ that was lined up with mattresses.
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