{"id":139428,"date":"2022-04-28T12:22:30","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T10:22:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=139428"},"modified":"2025-12-19T11:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-12-19T10:26:15","slug":"university-has-limited-insight-into-sexual-harassment-among-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2022\/04\/28\/university-has-limited-insight-into-sexual-harassment-among-students\/","title":{"rendered":"University has limited insight into sexual harassment among students"},"content":{"rendered":"

Only a small proportion of students who state that they have experienced sexual transgression ever report it to the university. As a result, there is limited insight into the extent of the problem. “It happens so often that it doesn’t feel like it\u2019s worth reporting.”<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tElzeline Kooy<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

In 2019 and 2020, the university\u2019s confidential counsellors received twenty reports from students about sexual harassment per year. Official complaints submitted to the Committee Undesirable Behaviour are few and far between. Between 2016 and 2020, there were ten, only one of which was declared founded. According to the counsellors, the number of reports is so low that there is no insight into the extent of the problem of undesirable behaviour.<\/p>\n\t

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In a series of articles, EM highlights sexual harassment among students. This is part 3.<\/p>\n

Part 1: Dire cases are no exception for sexual harassment among students<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 2: \u2018It feels like I\u2019m the one being punished for the assault, not the perpetrator\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n

Part 3: University has barely any insight into sexually transgressive behaviour among students<\/em><\/p>\n

Part 4: What students find sexually transgressive<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cNothing is known about the actual number of incidents involving students who are victims of undesirable behaviour on campus\u201d, the confidential counsellors wrote in their 2019 annual report. \u201cWe suspect that the problem is more widespread than we are seeing.\u201d They therefore called for research into transgressive behaviour among students. They repeated this call in the annual report of 2020.<\/p>\n

Research confirms suspicion<\/h2>

Investigation by EM shows that the problem is indeed much bigger than the university is aware of, at least when it comes to sexual harassment. In a survey conducted amongst almost 300 students, two out of three students indicated that they have had sexually transgressive experiences since starting their studies at Erasmus University. Almost half of these students have experienced such behaviour from fellow students or a lecturer.<\/p>\n

However, only a small percentage of students report it to the university, for instance to a confidential counsellor, study advisor or to a student psychologist. Of the students who reported that they had been subjected to sexual penetration or oral sex against their will, 80 percent did not report it; in the case of other forms of sexually transgressive behaviour, more than 90 percent did not report it.<\/p>\n\t

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There are many ways that people overstep the sexual boundaries of others. Such incidents can take place digitally, for instance, through sexually-tinged comments on social media or dick pics. Or verbally, for example catcalling, sexually-tinged jokes or comments about someone\u2019s sexual orientation or appearance. Many students have also dealt with physically transgressive behaviour. Consider things such as inappropriate touching or kissing, for example during an evening out. But rape as well.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n

\u201cThis research confirms what we had already suspected\u201d, says Debra Young, one of the main confidential counsellors at Erasmus University. \u201cSexually transgressive behaviour is rife and often goes unreported. You also saw this with The Voice<\/em>. It\u2019s no different among staff and students at the university.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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Read more<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t