A new study reveals the kinds of unwanted sexual attention students at Danish universities have been subjected to. Danish universities and the National Union of Students in Denmark carried out the survey. This is a strong motivation to make a concerted effort to put an end to this kind of behaviour, according to the pro-rector.

2018.12.05 | Sys Christina Vestergaard

“The study on unwanted sexual behaviour towards students at Danish universities gives a voice to students who have experienced unwanted sexual attention, and we cannot ignore what they have gone through,” emphasises Pro-rector Berit Eika.

“This survey is doing absolutely the right thing by focusing on the kinds of incidents  students have been subjected to. It makes for very uncomfortable reading, and it makes me sad for them. We would like to thank everyone who responded to the survey. It gives us even more reason to do our best to make sure that things like this do not happen, because this kind of thing is completely unacceptable,” says Berit Eika on behalf of the entire senior management team.

Unwanted sexual attention is unacceptable behaviour

Survey respondents completed the questionnaire anonymously, so the results provide no indication of what may have taken place at Aarhus University. Nor does the study give any indication of how widespread the problem is. But no matter what, the senior management team will now hold discussions with the student body to work out how best to prevent and counter this absolutely unacceptable behaviour. We have to talk openly about it, and we all need to say no to it, emphasises Berit Eika.

As far as the Student Council at Aarhus University is concerned, it is important to define clear limits in order to keep students safe.

“At Aarhus University, we should focus in future on the best way to create a safe study environment from students’ very first encounters with the university. We should look at how we can create a framework that promotes dialogue on the individual students’ personal boundaries. This has to take place at the departments and centres,” says Carina Molsen Nielsen, chair of the Student Council.

The new survey shows that in most cases these incidents involve just students, but there are also instances where staff have been involved. Hence it has to be made clear to everyone at the university that unwanted sexual attention is unacceptable behaviour, be it from students or staff members.

“Any incident of unwanted sexual attention involving a fellow student or a staff member at the university is an incident that should never have happened. Incidents of this kind do not just happen at universities, but we have to do everything in our power to make sure that they do not happen here in future. We have a special responsibility because we work with young people, and there are lots of social events involving alcohol – and not least, we need to be particularly attentive to the fact that the relationship between staff and students is asymmetric that under no circumstances should be exploited,” says Berit Eika.

 

We say no – ask for help

The MeToo phenomenon has already intensified focus on unwanted sexual attention and advances at the university. Earlier this year, the senior management team initiated a process aimed at ensuring that students have a variety of places to turn to if they experience anything they find inappropriate or uncomfortable. The employed student counsellors are being trained to deal with cases of this kind. Students can also contact student-run bodies.

“The Student Council and Aarhus University have been working together over the last six months to create and upgrade improved anonymous sources of help for students, including the AU Helpline and the Student Council’s legal assistance service, as well as other initiatives. It is important for us to take the report seriously, and we will continuing to guarantee and advertise these anonymous services for students,” says Carina Molsen Nielsen, chair of the Student Council at Aarhus University.

However, the survey indicates one important thing in this regard: that students who have experienced unwanted sexual attention do not seek help at the university.

“We are finding that few people seek help. We have to do even more to make it clear where students can turn for help, and our job is to make sure they can contact us safely – and anonymously, if they prefer that,” says Berit Eika.

 

Read more at Universities Denmark (in danish)

On the Universities Denmark website, you can  read:

An announcement about the Universities Denmark survey

A feature article by the National Union of Students in Denmark and Universities Denmark

The full report

Fact sheet about the survey

About the survey

The survey began in the spring as part of a joint initiative involving the National Union of Students in Denmark and Universities Denmark.

1,194 students from the eight universities in Denmark chose to participate in the recently published survey into unwanted sexual attention at universities. 150,000 received the questionnaire.

The survey focuses on the nature of unwanted sexual incidents students have been subjected to. The study provides no indication of the extent of the problem.

Aarhus University’s study environment survey provides some idea of its extent here at the university. Some 0.7 per cent of the 15,491 students who took part in the survey in 2017 had experienced sexual harassment – and this figure is about the same as those in the 2014 and 2011 surveys.

If you have been subjected to behaviour that you find inappropriate or uncomfortable, click here for assistance