Graham Virgo, pro-vice-chancellor for education at Cambridge, admitted there was a sexual misconduct problem at the university
The University of Cambridge has admitted it has a ‘significant problem’ with sexual misconduct after receiving almost 200 complaints in just nine months.
Following the launch of a new anonymous online reporting system the elite institution received a staggering 173 complaints.
The revelations come as universities across the country face pressure to tackle sexual harassment, with growing numbers introducing anonymous reporting methods.
The majority of complaints at Cambridge (119) alleged student-on-student misconduct, while seven complaints were made by staff against colleagues, and two by students against staff.
The remainder of complaints – which were made via a public website – involved neither staff nor students. This is because visitors to the campus are also able to complete online questionnaires. Some of the reports are thought to be historic.
The University of Cambridge received 173 complaints in just nine months after launching an anonymous online system where victims can report the crimes
The university said it had expected a high number of reports because of the anonymous nature of the system – introduced last May as part of its Breaking the Silence campaign.
Just six allegations were formally reported at Cambridge last term, between October and December.
Graham Virgo, professor of English private law and pro-vice-chancellor for education at Cambridge, told The Guardian: ‘The challenge is that one or two complaints a year do not give a university much information with which to formulate a response to the wider problem.
‘Through the anonymous reporting tool, we now have a large number of Cambridge voices who have reported the issues they’ve faced.
‘It supports our belief that we have a significant problem involving sexual misconduct – what we now need to ensure is that those who have been affected receive the support and guidance they need.’
A number of other universities, including Manchester, have introduced similar anonymous reporting tools, but Cambridge is the first to publish such a high number of reports.
While at Oxford, eleven current and former officeholders of the OUCA have warned that a number of members ‘feel able to treat women with disrespect and discourtesy’.
The statement – proposed by the most senior female officer in the association, Social Secretary Lucy Boland – was submitted at a meeting of the society last Thursday, according to student newspaper, Cherwell.
The university said it had expected a high number of reports because of the anonymous nature of the system (stock photo)
It claims ‘there is a common perception that the association has a problem with sexism, and that this perception is right’.
The statement cites ‘numerous reports’ that several attendees at the society’s Port and Policy event last week ‘groped, touched, kissed (or attempted to), or otherwise harassed female guests’. It also alleges that this has been a recurring issue.
However, when these issues were raised to other senior officers, it is claimed they were ‘dismissed due to fears of bad PR’.
The signatories include Treasurer, James Olney, and Political Officer, Connor Beattie.
Ms Boland said: ‘One may easily dismiss reports of harassment of unnamed women but I am sure that if one of the victims was one of your own sisters you would feel very differently, and you should extend the same concern to all of our members.’
Solutions suggested included banning from events those members ‘guilty of groping and harassment’ and mandating sexual assault prevention courses for all officers and committee members.
OUCA president Timothy Doyle told Cherwell: ‘The Association takes allegations of misconduct at its events very seriously indeed.
‘Where the Association receives an allegation of an incident of sexual harassment at one of its events, the only action it can take is to refer it to the University authorities.
‘I am not aware of any Member’s [sic] having been discouraged from making a complaint for the sake of avoiding bad publicity. I should deplore such an attitude.’
An Oxford University spokesman said: ‘All registered University clubs and societies are expected to act in accordance with an agreed Code of Conduct and with the University of Oxford’s Policy and Procedure on Harassment.
‘This states clearly that all members of registered clubs are expected to treat other members with dignity and respect, discourage any form of harassment by making it clear that such behaviour is unacceptable, and support other members who feel that they have been subject to harassment.’