By Gavin Mackintosh-
The number of reports of sexual assault made to Oxford Brookes University over the past five years is raising concerns with politicians and activists , who are eager to see a radical change.
In the academic years 2017-2021, the Headington university received more than 63 reports of sexual assaults. In addition, including at least one allegation of rape reported each academic year over the same period. In contrast, the academic year of 2019-2020 saw only nine allegations reported – the lowest figure.
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The reports have led to searching questions as to why a university with very bright students with a solid foundation has been riddled with serious complaints of sexual assault.
One pupil of the otherwise renowned university anonymously told The Eye Of Media.Com that a superiority complex and drugs on the social scene was partly to blame for the reports.
”Many pupils on the social scene take class A drugs to fit in and feel important because students in this uni are generally from well off backgrounds are academically accomplished. Many of them have attended private school and developed their intellect to a degree that makes them overconfident.
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They come to an environment like this where they meet many of their equals, but may feel outclassed on their pulling power. The quest to maintain their high brovado when mixed with drugs and/or alcohol can be disastrous. I honestly believe many times the guys are so off their face that they become tone deaf to a girl’s decline, which sometimes comes late in the show. There is no excuse for any conduct perceived to be sexual assault.
A geography graduate, Michael Maclean told this publication: ”sometimes you have a situation in which both parties are drunk and in some cases high, and after they have had fun, the girl forgets consenting when she was drunk. In principle, nobody who is drunk can give consent to sex, but the unfortunate reality is that it happens in many circumstances, especially when both male and female have both had too much. I would like to think there are very few cases, if any at all, of outright sexual assaults by a male who did not know his alleged female victim, who then complained of sexual assault.
If there have been any cases of sexual assault that have taken place which were clearly premeditated without any mitigating circumstances, I would think such cases would end up in court, and with the offender both jailed and excluded, if guilty. I do not wish to undermine the seriousness of sexual assaults anywhere, but I don’t think we are talking of outright rape cases by predators in their higher than very low numbers, if at all”.
Another second year female student who insisted on anonymity said: ”many pupils on the social scene take class A drugs to fit in and elevate their ranking among their peers. I know for a fact there are some guys who will deliberately try and get their female guests drunk just to have sex with them. I believe some even spike their drinks.
Guys have to know that consent for sex has to be unarguable and credible, without any manipulation of any kind. The girls at this university are all smart people, they wouldn’t accuse people of sexual assault unless they felt sexually violated. It is a man’s duty to be sure that he has the unshakable consent of every girl he sleeps with . Some boys think they can get away with it that’s why they commit these offences”.
Oxford Brookes University is one of the very best universities in the Uk The World University 2019 rankings found that Oxford Brookes is ranked amongst the “world’s top universities” in 12 subjects including Law, Politics and International Studies, English and English Literature, Economics, Geography, and 7 other subjects. reports of sexual assaults is bad for the university’s reputation, and the authorities told this publication it is doing everything in its power to reverse the tide of serious complaints of a sexual nature.
Oxford Brookes Student Union said it has been working with the university to “promote a culture of safety and inclusivity on campus”.
The union president, Tannah Collier, said: “In November the union was proud to support students to hold a vigil for survivors of sexual violence and harassment and to launch our Brookes Together campaign.
“We all recognize that there is much more that could be done across Higher Education, and beyond, to prevent sexual assault from occurring. As part of our Brookes Together campaign, we worked with students to draw up a clear action plan which you can find on the union’s website.
“We will be working with the university to deliver this and implement recommendations. It’s important that students feel comfortable and supported when disclosing incidents of sexual violence or harassment, and as part of our campaign we are working hard to improve processes within the university for responding to these cases.”
Labour MP for Oxford East, Anneliese Dodds, also the Shadow Women and Equalities Secretary, called for the highly rated university to do more to address the problem.
She said: “These figures are very concerning, and we know that sexual offences are often underreported.” “I know there is work going on at the university, trying to improve the situation to make sure students are safe. There has been a lot of change recently.
“More work needs to be done at a national level to make it very clear where accountability lies.”
Labour Mp: Anneliese Dodds Anneliese Dodds.org.uk
Allegations
The academic year of 2017-2018 saw 23 allegations of sexual assault reported to the university – the highest figure in the past five years.
In contrast, the academic year of 2019-2020 saw only nine allegations reported – the lowest figure.
Campaigners believe four months of 2020 were spent in national lockdown, which would have seen many students returning to their hometowns.
Oxford City Councillor and Violence Against Women and Girls campaigner, Shaista Aziz, described the data was ‘shameful’ and ‘damning’.
She said: “This data is extremely horrifying. The data from the academic years of 2017 to 2021 show that there has consistently been similar numbers of individuals coming forward reporting incidences of rape – this means there’s a consistent problem.
“We also know that these are underreported figures. We know rape is underreported across the country so it will be underreported at universities.”
A spokesperson for Oxford Brookes said in a statement to this publication: “Sexual violence has no place at Oxford Brookes. When incidents are brought to our attention, we do all that we can to ensure that the allegations are investigated thoroughly and support is provided to the students involved. The University ensures that appropriate liaison with the police takes place and access is provided to specialist support services, where required. “We welcome the recent launch of the Students’ Union’s ‘Brookes Together’ campaign. The University will be working closely with the Students’ Union to ensure that Oxford Brookes is as welcoming, inclusive and safe as possible.
‘We have committed to a joint programme of work and later this semester, we will be arranging opportunities for students to speak to senior University staff and share feedback on these issues. “A huge amount of work is already in progress, and at the beginning of the current academic year the University introduced a new, online sexual consent education course for students. The course supports students to understand the law as well as the gender norms, stereotypes and cultural factors which may affect someone’s ability to consent.
‘It also provides advice on what to do if they or a friend experience harassment or violence. “The
University is also currently reviewing behaviour and practices within Brookes Sport, including all clubs, to ensure that policies and practices promote the culture, behaviours and values we expect of all our students.
“If any of our students, staff or our wider community have concerns about behaviour or practices in any aspect of University life, we would encourage them to report them via our dedicated University Reporting Tool.”
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