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Earlier this year, 20-year-old student Andrew* reported to the University of Wollongong that he had been sexually assaulted by a fellow classmate, news.com.au reports.
He requested that the university to remove the alleged perpetrator from his tutorial. However, they did not respond in the manner he had hoped.
Instead, the University of Wollongong devised an 11-page safety plan for Andrew and recommended that alter his own behaviour to avoid the alleged perpetrator.
Recommendations included keeping alert for the unexpected, not taking unnecessary changes, walking confidently, staying in well-lit areas and being prepared to scream if attacked.
The report also suggested that Andrew, “avoid contact with [the alleged perpetrator]. Should [that individual] be sighted while on campus [Andrew] should stop and select a different pathway to one which would continue any opportunity for contact”.
Understandably, Andrew was upset by the university’s reaction. “Nothing happened to him. Instead I was told to make all the changes,” he said.
A spokesperson for the University of Wollongong said, “For privacy and legal reasons, the university does not comment on specific allegations or cases of sexual assault, other criminal activity or student misconduct.”
“[The document is] standard procedure for University of Wollongong security officers to assist any student feeling unsafe for any reason by preparing a personalised safety plan in consultation with that student”.
Andrew went to the police and was granted an apprehended violence order against his alleged attacker.
*names have been changed
Via news.com.au
