Female professor forced out of university for supporting student.

[Siablue]

This is a really shocking story but not surprising given what we know about universities. Professor Heather Savigny from DeMontfort University supported a student who was groped by a male professor. This happened on the dance floor at the faculty Christmas party.

mobile.twitter.com/ClaireShrugged/status/1295654916682321923

There is also this article in the Times Higher but I don’t have access. www.timeshighereducation.com/blog/metoo-failing-university

That she lost her job and he got a “slap on the wrist” is an absolute joke. Sexism is rife in academia.

Also, I used to work with Heather and she was without doubt one of the most supportive colleagues I have ever had. A fantastic person all round and I’m sure this is a big loss to De Montfort, especially for female faculty and students.

Poor Heather I hope she has a lot of real life support. The student was suicidal as well. It must be so awful for your university to take the side of your abuser.

As I don't have access to twitter I did a search and found this article which fills in the details
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8636905/Academic-forced-scandal-hit-university-helping-student-groped-professor.html#comments

An undergraduate at De Montfort University claimed she was twice groped by a professor at a Christmas party.

The university told his alleged victim he had been given a ‘firm slap on the wrists

FFS.

That's flipping awful - expect a few supporters along soon cos DMU are fucking obsessive about their social media ratings!

@DominaShantotto

That's flipping awful - expect a few supporters along soon cos DMU are fucking obsessive about their social media ratings!

Well she is not backing down someone from the BBC is going to talk to her and she said she refused to sign a non disclosure agreement. www.psa.ac.uk/psa/news/what-does-metoo-tell-us-about-ndas-and-why-i-wouldn’t-sign-one

Ironically she has done research into sexism in academia.

How is a professor sexually assaulting a student (actually not just one, either) not gross misconduct and immediate dismissal, plus criminal charges to boot?

Did the last five decades just not happen?

Shameful. And the witch hunt against the woman who supported the victim compounds it further.

What a shit - and dangerous - place to work or study if you’re female. I really hope Savigny takes this a lot further.

I wish I was surprised.

So the moral of the story is that DMU punishes victims and their supporters harsher than the perpetrators. Nice.

I also wish I was surprised.

Moral of the story is that you should go to DMU if you're a man who wants to get away with groping women.

I find it a bit odd that a woman who is a professor of gender studies puts on red stilettoes to be photographed. I don't even know why I find it odd, though. Anyone with me on this?

why am I not surprised - this university DMU has an appalling record - my niece was going she is not now ....boycott such places to make a difference

The fact this man feels he can grope his students in full public view tells you all you need to know about the culture at DMU. Professor Heather Savigny should get an OBE or something. I’m sure she knew she was risking her career by defending her student, that kind of courage is rare in the extreme, we’d be all better off if there were like her.

@Tarquinthecat

I find it a bit odd that a woman who is a professor of gender studies puts on red stilettoes to be photographed. I don't even know why I find it odd, though. Anyone with me on this?

In a word no. If you read this story and that was your sole concern there is something wrong with you.

@anotherhumanfemale

Moral of the story is that you should go to DMU if you're a man who wants to get away with groping women.

I'm afraid that this incident does not tell us something about DMU specifically, but rather about academia in general. It's what I'd what I'd expect to happen at pretty much any university. Male professors are untouchable, and they know it. Most of them have the decency not to (consciously) exploit that knowledge, but there are many that do.

... Male professors are untouchable, and they know it...

I'm curious. Does anyone know the the sex ratio of professors at this university? I always think it's going to be that men outnumber women hugely, but you never know these days..

Most of them have the decency not to (consciously) exploit that knowledge, but there are many that do

Not just with respect to sex, but also to ducking out of teaching, exploiting the labour of women and so on.

@SocialMedea

... Male professors are untouchable, and they know it...

I'm curious. Does anyone know the the sex ratio of professors at this university? I always think it's going to be that men outnumber women hugely, but you never know these days..

Male professors significantly outnumber female professors nationally so I would be amazed if it was the opposite at DMU. They have also had a scandal recently around there former VC who left in disgrace. Lots of allegations of bullying by senior staff.

I'm unsurprised, academia has always been rife with gropey male staff.
The treatment of Heather Savigny and the student sends out a clear signal to women to avoid this place.

Tarquinthecat you must be the area rep for ShoeZone ?

Shocking! Why wasn't the perpetrator investigated by the police? NDA's used for this reason are outrageous. DMU is one of our nearest universities and I'm hoping that DD1 doesn't want to go there,it really doesn't sound safe.
I was unaware that there were footwear rules for feminists? I wear wellies mostly,or men's work boots. Is this allowed?

I hope Heather and the student have real-life support. Typical that the male academic gets off scot-free. I wonder how many more will come forward now.

Flores
Tarquinthecat you must be the area rep for ShoeZone ?

Heather Savigny puts on red stilletoes to take out the bins! What the fuck does that have to do with anything?