All St Andrews students to undergo consent lesson following exposure of rape claims
THE University of St Andrews is introducing a compulsory module on consent and sexual assault for all students, following a Telegraph investigation into a series of alleged rapes on campus.
Every one of the university’s 9,000 students will be required to participate in the online class before they are allowed to start the forthcoming academic year in a move that has been praised by female students.
The university also said that it was undertaking work to ensure that its staff were sufficiently trained to support sexual assault victims.
Yesterday, The Telegraph revealed that more than a dozen claims of rape and sexual assault have been levelled at members of a US-style fraternity, which has suspended some of its cohort. At least nine allegations of rape were made against students in the St Andrews branch of Alpha Epsilon Pi – a global fraternity with more than 170 groups in seven countries. The fraternity responded to the claims saying:
“We find the contents of these allegations abhorrent, and are taking them extremely seriously.”
They said they “immediately suspended members who acknowledged any role in the alleged incidents and entered them into Alpha Epsilon Pi’s expulsion process”. The police and the university have urged victims to come forward, and the group has pledged to work with the authorities.
Now, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal that the university has taken swift action and all new and returning students will have to undertake an online module on consent and sexual assault.
In a statement, the university said: “We are introducing a compulsory orientation module for the upcoming academic year, which will require students to learn more about consent and sexual assault before matriculating.
“The university will always act when incidents are formally reported, and is committed to working collaboratively with students to promote a culture of responsibility and respect.”
St Andrews Survivors, a group which has campaigned to raise awareness of sexual assault on campus, said: “This move shows a recognition that more has to be implemented on an institutional level to combat the culture that fosters a tolerance for sexual assault.”
One young woman, who says she was raped by a fraternity member in February, welcomed the move by the university.
“I think this is really good because the fact that this is compulsory means that people can be held accountable.
“I haven’t always been happy with the way that the university has handled this, but the new initiative shows progression. They are being made to get the message now,” she said.
In 2018, an investigation by The Tab found only Durham and Kent universities had mandatory consent classes.
‘The new initiative shows progression. They are being made to get the message now’