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Glasgow Live
Glasgow Live
National
Craig Paton

More than 50 'sexual impropriety' claims made at Glasgow University in past five years

More than fifty claims of 'sexual impropriety' have been made to Glasgow University in the past five years, new figures have shown.

Three hundred and ninety-four reports were made to Scotland's eighteen higher education institutions since the 2016 to 17 academic year, not including the Open University.

However, the figure is likely higher, with the Royal Conservatoire and Heriot Watt University refusing to divulge the number of accusations they have received for fear of identifying those involved - saying only that there were less than five accusations in each year.

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The highest number of accusations were made at Edinburgh University, where 76 reports were filed, followed by 68 at St Andrews University and 60 at Glasgow University, the PA News Agency found from Freedom of Information requests.

The Glasgow University figures include 13 reports made by staff members against colleagues.

About 308 of the reports were made against students, while about 68 were made against members of staff.

Edinburgh Napier University provided a percentage of total accusations which were made against students (84%) and staff (16%), meaning the figure cannot be extrapolated with complete certainty.

Confirmed investigations were launched into at least 257 of the accusations, resulting in at least 130 sanctions being handed down.

The number of investigations and punishments are also incomplete, due to the responses from universities.

For example, the Royal Conservatoire said it could not specify the number of investigations undertaken or sanctions handed down for fear of identifying those involved.

Punishments included included 22 exclusions, five suspensions, two dismissals of staff and 46 warnings or cautions.

Sandy Brindley, chief executive of Rape Crisis Scotland, said: "All students should be able to study free from the fear and reality of sexual violence and yet these figures show that this is not the case for too many."

She added that students who suffer sexual violence often have to continue their studies alongside their attacker.

"At best, this can leave survivors feeling unsafe and unsupported but, too often, it also leads to them feeling unable to continue with their studies and dropping out.

"This is, frankly, unjust and not something that we should simply accept."

Ms Brindley went on to call for universities to make supporting the victims of sexual violence "a priority".

She said: "Universities must show leadership in addressing sexual violence within their campuses, and in ensuring fair and transparent processes are in place for investigating any complaint of sexual violence or misconduct.

"The wellbeing and safety of students experiencing sexual violence must be a priority."

A spokesman for Universities Scotland asked victims to come forward to give institutions "an accurate picture" of the problem.

"Universities want to be safe and respectful communities for both their students and staff," he said.

"Sadly, that's not everyone's experience and that requires universities to respond effectively.

"We want to encourage students to report all forms of sexual misconduct so we have an accurate picture of the scale and can take appropriate action.

"Every university has policies and procedures that set standards and expectations of staff and students in their behaviour as well as conduct."

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