STUDENTS stood together in solidarity following the alleged sexual assault of two women at a Southend university campus, prompting demands for urgent action.
Georgia Knowles, who has been living at the University of Essex campus in Elmer Approach since October, organised the demonstration after she says she was sexually assaulted in her university flat this year.
The 18-year-old East 15 acting student has bravely waived her anonymity to share her experience, feeling “failed” by the university which she claims have given her barely any support.
She was joined at the campus in Southend yesterday by dozens of fellow students and friends, who demanded further action is taken.
Essex Police have confirmed they are investigating the sexual assault of two women in March.
Students turned up in their dozens
Ms Knowles says her own experience, which she claims happened while she was intoxicated and unable to consent, has not only significantly impacted her mental health but also left her feeling like a “fragile, broken and smaller version” of the person she first was when she started her course.
She said: “Constantly I feel angry, I want to cry, I want to scream, I don’t sleep or I just sleep all day, or I’m hit with a panic attack.
“This has had an enormous effect on my life and has impacted my relationships with others, particularly men, by destroying my trust.
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“This has only been emphasised by the lack of support from my tutors. I would argue that it is every staff members’ responsibility to protect the safety of their students, and I hope the protest will help them acknowledge the failures they have made.”
The University of Essex has assured it is taking the situation “extremely seriously”, taking immediate action and launching an urgent investigation. The case is expected to go to a conduct hearing.
One of the placards at the protest
A spokesman said: “We are in regular contact with those involved and have provided ongoing wellbeing support and advice while we complete our investigations.
“In response to the protest, the university will arrange to meet with the organiser to listen to specific concerns and further explain the process of the investigation and the procedures that are being followed.
“We recognise that confronting violence and harassment against women is a challenge in universities and our work on tackling this issue is on-going.” It is looking at what steps need to be taken and it wanted to maintain a “safe, healthy environment”.
It has set up a harassment advisory network.
Students with their placards
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