#shameonyouwarwick

[smcbride]

Warwick Police haven't prosecuted anyone for these vile rape threats and Warwick uni are now letting (some of?) the perpetrators back in to study at the same university alongside those they discussed threatening to rape.

Would you be happy sending your child here?

Warwick students suspended over rape threats allowed to return earlyly*_

In any other context this kind of behaviour is recognised as creating a culture that causes problems for their victims.

Not impressed. Also, all the not involved boys in that department could have the 'was it them' question hovering around them as they go into graduate recruitment.

OpalIridescence

"By the way there is a petition about this if anyone wants to sign."

Yes, please, can't find it.

How old were the 'boys' engaged in this hate speech? Were they actually men?

I wouldn't doubt that the university is terrified that if they didn't cave one of these students would bring legal action against them. A university is a very different setting from most workplaces as someone will always scream about how fees or taxes are being used inappropriately if the uni does X, Y, Z. I'm not saying this excuses that leniency, but I would guess that's what's behind it

I think, in this particular case, the university should have been willing to deal with the legal challenge. I think the consequences of running away from it will do much more damage to their reputation and finances.

Yes, Italiangreyhound, they were men, not boys, and it’s important that this is understood as one of them had said they’d recently slept with a 14-year old.

MrsAriadneOliver what you have to understand is that not everyone has your mental fortitude. Some people may have come from traumatic backgrounds. Some may suffer from mental Illness. We have to be able to protect the vulnerable in a civilised society.

And as for the ridiculous notion that words aren’t important is completely disproved by the suicides by people being bullied online. Words matter.

But anyway, what amazes me is you defending the poor boys (adult males) and being concerned for their future. Why shouldn’t they just be strong and get on with life. Why should it be the innocent women that have to do this?

It was a big mistake in my view to launch a legal challenge. I’d have had more sympathy for them if they’d taken their punishment like an adult. The fact that they didn’t screams self-entitlement.

@Lycanthropology

I’d never think it’s acceptable behaviour, and of course I don’t think they should get off scot-free, but I also think there’s a difference between words and actions. We cannot legislate against the words an individual may choose to use, however unpleasant. I believe in free speech. Threats of violence and actual physical violence? Never, but do people have the individual right to be an unpleasant human being and call me names if they choose? I think they do.

It's the way of the world - we wouldn't want to ruin the young man's life.

Absolutely. God forbid that a man's life is affected by anything he chooses to do, no matter how heinous for anyone else.

I feel really sorry for their parents (the boys parents). I would be mortified if this was my son.

do people have the individual right to be an unpleasant human being and call me names if they choose? I think they do.

I'm thinking a few names now Ariadne.

And it is your sort of attitude that makes life so very difficult for reasonable, not-unpleasant people"

@Spicilydone

Because having to go through those experiences made me stronger. I didn’t have the choice to walk away from them. And you know nothing about my background or my struggles with mental illness.

I’m defending the men involved not because I think they’re pleasant people, but because I think their punishment was adequate. They’re horrible people, but they didn’t physically harm anyone.

They should be expelled. What kind of students is Warwick producing/encouraging? Smears all other decent students as they will be associated with this nasty behavior. Surely will cost this Uni future students, and rightly so. Disgusting. Committee should have to explain that decision instead of issuing drivel platitudes.

One of the women targeted is saying that one of the men directly tried to pressure her into staying quiet in the aftermath of this. Why should she have to share a campus with these men.

I've just emailed Brian Cox, as he's recently become an honorary graduand, for his thoughts on this.

His email address is available on his Instagram feed if anyone is interested in doing the same.

Often, the universities aren't willing to do anything. Maybe their "patrons" will?

www.change.org/p/stuart-croft-to-see-the-11-warwick-university-students-face-more-extreme-punishment-than-suspension

This is the petition, hope link works.

Before I get jumped on, I also feel for the parents of the girls involved.

Actually - this is assault, surely, even though it's "only" threats?

Why are the police not more pro-active here?

Ariadne, it is a short step from encouraging this kind of language and thinking and acting on it. Much discussion on the dangers of language like antisemitism, racism etc has been in the media at the moment. These exchanges go beyond name calling and directly proposed violence. It is not acceptable. It should not be downplayed. And yes the consequences should be rightly harsh so that the next person seriously questions what they are about to do when they think of posting such vile sentiments.

@SchadenfreudePersonified

How ironic - condemning others for name-calling but happy do it yourself!

Go on, have a go. I guarantee you I’ve heard worse! As I said earlier, I went through it on a daily basis, so they had to get creative.

Psychological harm IS physical harm. Our physiology is altered by our biological reactions to stress and trauma. The initial terror of being threatened with rape and genital mutilation would have caused significant stimulation of the limbic system causing the release of cortisol and adrenaline. Over longer periods of time (knowing that you will have to face your aggressors at university) this heightened physical state of anxiety can develop into long term anxiety and even ptsd causing significant inflammation. Those with long term anxiety are more likely to develop physical illnesses, particularly autoimmune disorders.

So yes .... terrorising women with threats of sexual violence and failing to protect or support them DOES cause women physical harm.

Your attitude of "they're so much weaker than me, they should suck it up" is incredibly unpleasant and rather worrying Ariadne

I can't imagine being so arrogant to think that my experiences can be extrapolated out to reflect everyone's.

@JacquesHammer

Lucky that’s not my attitude then.

That’s on the women, I’m afraid. Life is tough. You have to be tough. You can’t always be safe and protected and cocooned. Words can only hurt you if you allow them to, if you give them power. These women shouldn’t be cowed in the face of it. No physical harm has come to them.

Oh just fuck off.

fazackerley I would save my sympathy. In my experience it is all too often the parents of thugs like this who pull strings and call in favours (and expensive lawyers) to protect their children from the consequences of their own actions.

I would however extend my sympathies to the parents of the poor women whose confidence has been undermined and whose experience of what should be a wonderful time in their lives has been ruined. It must be horrific to watch your bright, engaged daughter being reduced to an anxious worried scrap of herself because some socially inept man child thinks talk of raping women is a lighthearted jape.