St Mark’s College ban ‘ponding’ as sexual hazing claim referred to SA Police

THE Adelaide college for university students at the centre of sexual hazing claims has suspended the practice of “disciplining” students by dunking them in a pond, and asked police to investigate claims a young woman was forced to undress in front of older men.

THE Adelaide college for university students at the centre of sexual hazing claims has suspended the practice of “disciplining” students by dunking them in a pond, and asked police to investigate claims a young woman was forced to undress in front of older men.

St Mark’s has also disciplined three students over other hazing claims made by the Melbourne teen, who arrived at the North Adelaide college in February to study at Adelaide University.

In March, the young woman, 18, alleged new residents were forced to go on a “sex tour” of the college where they were exposed to naked men, older students simulating sex acts and hardcore pornography.

She said nearly 100 “freshers” were crammed into the campus pond together and verbally abused, and that she was forced to eat watermelon spat on by several older residents.

St Mark’s refuted her claim it did not offer appropriate support, launched its own investigation into the allegations and commissioned an external review from KPMG into the college’s “culture and behaviours”.

This week it told The Advertiser it suspended the practice of “ponding” and would review it after the consultants’ report is delivered mid-year.

The St Mark's College grounds. Picture: St Mark's College

Chairman Richard Burchnall said in a statement the college had not been able to verify “one particularly serious” claim — that the teen had been forced to take her top off — so it had reported the alleged incident to police.

“If further information comes to light and the allegation can be substantiated, the college will take swift action,” he said.

“Where (the woman’s) allegations have been substantiated, remedial action has been taken.

“We have established that three students did act in ways then unknown to, and unauthorised by, the college. One students showed inappropriate material on a TV screen and two others publicly bared their backsides.

“These actions breach the clear college behavioural guidelines and the students involved have been disciplined and counselled.

“They are being required to undertake a three-hour workshop on gender equity, sexual harassment and what it means to be an ethical bystander.”

Mr Burchnall said the college had written to the young woman, who moved back to Melbourne, to inform her of the investigations and give her the chance to provide more information.

“This follows previous similar requests that have gone unanswered,” he said.

“We continue to be concerned for her welfare.”

He was not aware of any other residents or staff making complaints of sexual harassment or assault.

The college’s “ponding policy”, seen by The Advertiser, describes the practice of transgressors being “gently rolled” into the campus pond, though it has been described by past residents as being thrown in.

“Once the pondee is rolled into the water, the bell ringer quickly rings the bell to signify a successful ponding. This practice has been developed to ensure full safety and wellbeing to all members involved in the process,” the policy says.

The long list of breaches that result in pondings include “wearing any form of headwear in the dining hall” and “having your knees out from under the table at formal hall”, or failing to attend sport training without an apology.

The tradition is longstanding.

In 1991, a former St Mark’s resident wrote in Adelaide University’s student newspaper that she was subjected to multiple pondings after she pushed for reform of the college’s “institutional victimisation and denigration of women”.

“Four or five big lads would set upon me and forcibly throw me into the pond, with no regard for clothes, occasion or sensitivity,” she wrote.

The gate of St Mark's College. Picture: St Mark's College

After the hazing allegations, Adelaide University and a group of North Adelaide residential colleges created a “charter of student fairness and wellbeing” and a joint working group.

Under the charter, any hazing or incidents of violence or harassment involving Adelaide University students at residential colleges must be reported to the university.

But the uni’s Student Representative Council president Matthew Boughey said the charter was a toothless tiger and “essentially a piece of flashy PR”.

He said the working group was “totally insular” and had no members with expertise on sexual assault or harassment or drug and alcohol issues.

It lacked defined aims and outcomes, or external scrutiny, and was not focused on hazing, he said.

The colleges are independently run, though Adelaide University is entitled to a seat on the St Mark’s board.

A university spokesman said the charter was “a positive step forward” and other independent accommodation providers had also pledged to sign it.

He said Mr Boughey had been given “multiple opportunities to meet and discuss” any concerns about the charter or other student welfare issues.

“The mechanisms for dealing with student misconduct continue to reside with each college and the university independently,” the spokesman said.

“Nevertheless, the group is able to address issues of common concern. The working group must consider broader issues as well as individual incidents, which cover the range of student welfare and wellbeing issues. These include harassment and bullying.”

The university had a separate taskforce with “specialist counselling expertise in sexual assault” that the working group could draw on when needed, he said.

The Advertiser has contacted police for comment.