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| University of Sydney college refuses to take part in misogyny inquest University of Sydney college refuses to take part in misogyny inquest | |
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| A prestigious college at the University of Sydney has refused to participate in a university-wide inquest into cultural attitudes of misogyny led by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick. | A prestigious college at the University of Sydney has refused to participate in a university-wide inquest into cultural attitudes of misogyny led by former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick. |
| The male-only St Paul’s college will instead conduct its own internal review, whose results will be kept confidential. | The male-only St Paul’s college will instead conduct its own internal review, whose results will be kept confidential. |
| The university’s residential colleges have long been plagued with reports of sexism, scandal and misbehaviour, which vice-chancellor Michael Spence described as “a thorn in our flesh” in May. | The university’s residential colleges have long been plagued with reports of sexism, scandal and misbehaviour, which vice-chancellor Michael Spence described as “a thorn in our flesh” in May. |
| Earlier this year, students at the co-educational Wesley College were condemned for producing a journal that shamed female students who had slept with the most men, while in 2009 students at St Paul’s set up a “pro-rape” Facebook page. | Earlier this year, students at the co-educational Wesley College were condemned for producing a journal that shamed female students who had slept with the most men, while in 2009 students at St Paul’s set up a “pro-rape” Facebook page. |
| The Students’ Representative Council women’s officer, Anna Hush, criticised the St Paul’s boycott. | The Students’ Representative Council women’s officer, Anna Hush, criticised the St Paul’s boycott. |
| “We’ve known for decades that colleges have an issue with misogyny, but part of the problem is their insularity. When these institutions aren’t open to external scrutiny, the sexism inside them is allowed to go unchecked,” she said. | “We’ve known for decades that colleges have an issue with misogyny, but part of the problem is their insularity. When these institutions aren’t open to external scrutiny, the sexism inside them is allowed to go unchecked,” she said. |
| “The Broderick review is a good start, but we need to remember that none of the recommendations will be binding to the colleges. This is why transparency is so key.” | “The Broderick review is a good start, but we need to remember that none of the recommendations will be binding to the colleges. This is why transparency is so key.” |
| A university spokeswoman said Broderick had begun working with the remaining five residential colleges and had established a confidential email address for students to share their experiences. | A university spokeswoman said Broderick had begun working with the remaining five residential colleges and had established a confidential email address for students to share their experiences. |
| “Ms Broderick and her team advise they have been impressed by the colleges’ openness and enthusiasm for the project and are confident about the long term benefits”, she said. | “Ms Broderick and her team advise they have been impressed by the colleges’ openness and enthusiasm for the project and are confident about the long term benefits”, she said. |
| Broderick has previously led investigations into the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force. | Broderick has previously led investigations into the treatment of women in the Australian Defence Force. |
| Rather than signing up to the Broderick review, St Paul’s has opted for male-focused workshops led by former students in a bid to reform its internal culture, it is understood. | Rather than signing up to the Broderick review, St Paul’s has opted for male-focused workshops led by former students in a bid to reform its internal culture, it is understood. |
| The sessions would be run on the lines of the UK-based Good Lad workshops. The project manager of Good Lad Australia, Alistair Kitchen, said he organised with the college to conduct workshops that help “men start conversations around consent, sexual harassment, masculinity and peer pressure”. | The sessions would be run on the lines of the UK-based Good Lad workshops. The project manager of Good Lad Australia, Alistair Kitchen, said he organised with the college to conduct workshops that help “men start conversations around consent, sexual harassment, masculinity and peer pressure”. |
| He said he would have been happy for the workshops to be delivered alongside the Broderick review process, and that they aimed to establish a “robust, feminist, moral framework” for male students’ relationships with women. | He said he would have been happy for the workshops to be delivered alongside the Broderick review process, and that they aimed to establish a “robust, feminist, moral framework” for male students’ relationships with women. |
| “We have an in-depth and intimate understanding of the issues unique to that environment and how to improve it,” he said. | “We have an in-depth and intimate understanding of the issues unique to that environment and how to improve it,” he said. |
| Hush said the workshops were a “a positive thing for colleges to recognise”. | Hush said the workshops were a “a positive thing for colleges to recognise”. |
| “I think men do need on take on the responsibility of educating their peers about gender, sexism and consent. As long as we keep shying away from it, women will keep getting hurt.” | “I think men do need on take on the responsibility of educating their peers about gender, sexism and consent. As long as we keep shying away from it, women will keep getting hurt.” |
| The colleges are independent of the university. The warden of St Paul’s, Dr Ivan Head, did not respond to Guardian Australia’s request for comment, but told Fairfax Media the college had “exercised its liberty as a self-governing body” in deciding not to take part in the review. | The colleges are independent of the university. The warden of St Paul’s, Dr Ivan Head, did not respond to Guardian Australia’s request for comment, but told Fairfax Media the college had “exercised its liberty as a self-governing body” in deciding not to take part in the review. |
| In August, it was announced that Universities Australia would commission a landmark nationwide survey into the prevalence of sexual assault on campuses. A survey of 1,926 University of Sydney students from May reported that one in four had experienced sexual harassment or assault, but only 18.9% of those reported the incident. | In August, it was announced that Universities Australia would commission a landmark nationwide survey into the prevalence of sexual assault on campuses. A survey of 1,926 University of Sydney students from May reported that one in four had experienced sexual harassment or assault, but only 18.9% of those reported the incident. |