Sexual consent workshops ‘reduced’ to online course

A UNIVERSITY has been criticised for an alleged “downgrading” of its sexual consent workshops to an online course.

Branding the decision by Bristol University “reckless”, its Intersectional Feminist Society published a lengthy statement, saying: “It is becoming increasingly evident that the university holds survivors in complete disregard.”

The university launched the workshops in 2015, developed in tandem with Avon and Somerset Constabulary’s rape and sexual abuse unit.

However, this year the workshops have been expanded to cover drugs and alcohol awareness, personal safety, community living and support sources.

Meanwhile, there is a mandatory e-induction to sexual consent for all new students in university accommodation, and the issue is also addressed in Unismart presentations, held for all students during Welcome Week.

A growing number of universities have introduced sexual consent workshops to their freshers’ week programmes in recent years, in an effort to curb sexual harassment on campus.

Oxford University has been running such workshops for a few years and last year made them “compulsory”.

York University also introduced the workshops last year and King’s College London has introduced a new online consent course this term.

A Bristol University spokesman said it took the issue “very seriously”.

“The issue of consent is covered through our mandatory e-induction for all new students in university accommodation.

“The aim of this new approach was to increase uptake. The new format appears to be working, as twice as many students have attended.”