Fellow Members of the Ashesi Community,
I am writing to give you an update on our most recent survey measuring sexual harassment and assault on campus.
Last year (2016/2017 academic year), an anonymous survey found that we had an unacceptable rate of sexual misconduct among students. 10.1 percent of respondents indicated that they had experienced some form of sexual misconduct, and one student reported being raped. Led by the Office of Student & Community Affairs, we stepped up conversations about making Ashesi a zero-tolerance space for sexualmisconduct and other forms of harassment, and we adjudicated reported cases of sexual misconduct, resulting in two expulsions and one suspension. Moving forward, we also decided to measure the level of sexual misconduct annually.
We conducted another survey towards the end of the 2017/2018 academic year (April 2018), in order to determine incidents of sexual misconduct since our last report was published, and to see whether we are making progress. Fifty percent of students responded to the survey. For those who did, thank you for taking the time to help us measure the situation.
4.1 percent of respondents in our most recent survey indicated having been victims of sexual misconduct within our community.
Though we appear to have made progress compared to the previous year, this is still 4.1 percent too many. We must actively work towards ensuring that this is a community that thrives on healthy relationships, where no student here experiences sexual misconduct, and where those who make this community unsafe for others are sanctioned appropriately.
There are three important things from this year’s report that should give us all cause to take this seriously:
First, seven respondents indicated having experienced rape. Four of these cases involved first year students, prior to their enrolment at Ashesi, perpetrated by people outside the Ashesi community. Three students reported having experienced rape within the Ashesi community. For students who have experienced these assaults, please know that you have help here, and I urge you to reach out to our counselling team for guidance and support if you need to speak about your experience.
Second, the data included one incident of sexual assault reportedly committed by a faculty member. Because the survey did not probe deeper, we do not know whether the respondent was referring to a full-time faculty member, an adjunct lecturer, or a faculty intern. I must reiterate: any kind of sexual contact that occurs without consent is a serious and unacceptable violation of university policy. In this particular case also, even if consent had been given, it would have been a major violation of university regulations which prohibit sexual or romantic relations between university employees and students. Such a faculty member should not be part of this community.
Third, although 4.1 percent of respondents indicated having been victims of sexual misconduct, the university did not receive any formal complaints during the period under review. The Student Affairs team, and all of us, are open to suggestions about how to make it easier for students to report experiences of misconduct.
We urge victims to report cases when they occur. Chances are, the people in our community responsible for this misconduct are in the extreme minority. We should hold them accountable, so they don’t get a chance to victimise others or discredit the values we stand for.
As with most things at Ashesi, our success will depend on students taking ownership for this, much as they have for our Honour system. Let us proceed with a determination that we can and will create a Great Society at Ashesi.