Students involved in Facebook row won’t return to uni

TWO students involved in the group chat that spoke of raping women at the University of Warwick will not be returning to campus, bosses have confirmed.

A total of five students were suspended after a vile Facebook group chat came to light with bans of up to 10 years being handed out.

However, it was reported last week that two students banned from the university for 10 years will be allowed to return later this year.

The bans were apparently reduced following an appeals process.

A new statement released on February 4 by the University of Warwick, however, says that those two students will now not be returning to the university.

In the statement, ViceChancellor Professor Stuart Croft said: “We are committed to ensuring the safety of our community.

“I have today spoken to the two young men concerned and confirm that neither of them will be returning to the university. I am continuing to listen to the views of students, staff and all members of our community here at Warwick and support them so that we can learn from this experience.”

The Facebook group chat was initially reported last summer by Warwick student newspaper The Boar.

One of the messages said: “Sometimes it’s fun to just go wild and rape 100 girls.”

While another said: “Rape the whole flat to teach them all [a] lesson.”

A disciplinary investigation by the university led to five students being suspended. Two were banned for 10 years, two for one year and one for life.

When the news broke last week that those banned for a decade could return later in 2019, there was uproar and the #ShameOnYouWarwick campaign took off on social media.

The BBC reported that one woman who was targeted said she felt “terrified at the prospect of having these boys in my seminars”.

Among the comments on Twitter alongside #ShameOnYouWarwick was that from Sheena Campbell (@Journo_ Sheena) who said: “The comments made by these men weren’t ‘banter,’ they were hate speech and they should not be allowed back on campus, least of all while their victims are still studying. This decision normalises behaviour which should be condemned in the strongest terms.”

In another tweet @ samloulyn said: “Absolutely abhorrent that this behaviour is being accepted!!! Women aren’t safe at @warwickuni #ShameOnYouWarwick” and @Waellabuja said: “As a proud Warwick student that promotes the university at every opportunity, this makes me take a step back! #shameonyouwarwick.”

Another message in the sickening Facebook chat read: “What do we do with girls? RAAAAAAAAAPE.”

At one point, a user wrote: “Rape her in the street while everybody watches,” with another responding it “wouldn’t even be unfair”.