University of Sussex students protest handling of rape claims

Campaigners stood in solidarity at Library Square on the University of Sussex campus in Falmer to show their support for alleged victims of rape and sexual abuse at the university.

The university said it works with charities to support victims and provides them with information on how to report rape and harassment to the police.

Jess Leigh, student at the University of Sussex

It also has an online tool, called Report +, which allows students to report cases of assault, but it has been criticised for delays in handling complaints.

In some cases, students said their complaints had been “ignored, trivialised and normalised”.

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Jess Leigh, who is president of the university’s feminist society and helped to organise the protest, said: “Over the years, people have argued that Sussex University have been complicit in a system of violence, like many universities.

Student protest over the University of Sussex handling of alleged incidents of sexual assault

“There is so much that the university can do, and so much that they just fail to do and I think this is why people are angry.

“As women, we just want to be able to walk around the campus and feel safe and currently that is not the case.”

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The 20-year-old who studies International Development said students will continue to stage demonstrations at the university until "action is taken".

Students protest at the University of Sussex

In a statement the university said: “Our Report + Support tool enables anybody to report abuse, discrimination, harassment or assault anonymously, or by providing contact details so that an advisor can provide support and guidance.

"We can’t comment on individual cases, but we will always take seriously any report made by a student and will support them through the process.

“Our staff work with charities such as the Survivors’ Network and Veritas Justice on how to respond to such disclosures and keep students safe.

“We offer an online relationships/consent course to all students and have good participation.

“We provide students with any necessary support and signpost them to welfare support services both internal and external to the University.

“We also help them to make informed choices about where and how to report, including to the police, if they wish to do so.”

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