College sexism scandal: ‘It isn’t a select few that participate in this, it’s a select few that don’t’.

APOLOGIES have been made, but is it enough? This is a party college, critics say, and this ugly song has been sung for five years.

Students sorry for ‘misogynistic’ song

MALE students from Philip Baxter College have apologised for “conduct of a sexist and misogynistic nature” after footage of them singing a vulgar, sexist chant on a bus was leaked.

The written apology comes after a handful of students from the University of New South Wales were captured on camera chanting about wishing women were “holes in the road” and wanting to “cream them by the dozen” on Friday.

The video sparked outrage and saw more than 100 demonstrators turn out on the lawns of UNSW and form a large ‘R’ to demand ‘respect’ yesterday.

An apology letter signed “Philip Baxter College Residents”, has since been issued:

“This letter is a statement of apology from residents of Philip Baxter College to the community at large for conduct of a sexist and misogynistic nature,” the note read.

“As a College we acknowledge and understand the boundaries that we have crossed.

“As a College community we condemn the actions outlined within the chants and their misogynistic sentiments.

“The words pronounced are in no way an indication of the values that Philip Baxter College adheres to, but the mere fact that we have sung them is enough to tarnish the integrity of every resident.”

The students wrote that “bringing this issue to light has made us realise the naivety we have been clouded by for not realising the impact issues of this nature have on society”.

“As a community we are using this opportunity to reaffirm the values with which we live by and ensure that nothing of this nature is ever present within our culture again,” the letter read.

“We will ensure that there is an increase in education and awareness internally to make sure that our residents understand and appreciate this very prevalent societal issue.”

UNSW Student Council women’s officer Jocelyn Dracakis told news.com.au she accepted the written apology but that the behaviour was a widespread “cultural” problem.

She said the demeaning chants were often excused under the guise of “tradition” and needed to be further addressed by universities in Australia.

Her sentiments were supported by dozens of people on social media who claimed they had been singing the chant “for more than 20 years” and that it “was just boys being boys”.

Others described the behaviour as “nauseating” and said the underlying attitude towards women was the main problem.

These chants by #UNSW students today are the foundation for tomorrow's assaults #domesticviolence @abc730 pic.twitter.com/96tL70mu9Y

— Arman Abrahimzadeh (@ArmaniZadeh) April 12, 2016

College house treasurer James Dunn is so far the only individual to admit involvement in the incident which saw the group of male students singing a derogatory song about wanting to “fill (women) with (their) load” and “do ‘em up the arse” on an annual ‘Boys Night Out’ trip.

Mr Dunn told the ABC’s 7.30 he had since realised that taking part in the chanting was inappropriate.

“The video is pretty appalling,” he said.

“As a leader of this college and me being a part of the group that was likely in the video, for me it is really personal and I have no idea why I did it.

“I’m sort of condemning my own actions at this time, and the actions of everyone in the video.”

The other students — who are reportedly residents of the college — aren’t visible because it’s too dark but they can be heard loud and clear, in the clip obtained by news.com.au.

“I wish that all the ladies were little red foxes and if I were a hunter I’d shoot up in their boxes,” they chanted.

“I wish that all the ladies were buns in the oven, and if I was a baker I’d cream them by the dozen.”

At least one man can be heard objecting to the deplorable behaviour, asking, “What the f***?” as others continued to yell the verses.

“I wish that all the ladies were holes in the road, and if I was a dump truck, I’d fill them with my load,” the chants continued.

“I wish that all the ladies were bells on a tower, and I was a bellboy, I’d bang them every hour.

“I wish that all the ladies were sheep in the grass and I was a kiwi I’d do ’em up the arse.”

Another UNSW student, who asked to remain anonymous, told news.com.au she regularly heard other students “singing those songs as they walk down the street drunk on Thursday and Friday nights”.

“The reason for this is the college participates in what’s known as silly season — a month long party tradition where they encourage the new residents to get absolutely blind drunk,” she said.

“Phillip Baxter college is known as a party college, if you don’t binge drink then you’ll be an outcast.

“The song that’s sung was frequently chanted almost every night on the Ozparty bus that would shuttle us from UNSW to the city.”

She said “senior residential advisers who organised the trip (were) also involved in the chants”.

“The college knows about and did nothing until now because it was filmed and someone finally spoke out,” she said.

“But it’s been happening yearly for the past five years.

“It isn’t a select few that participate in this, it is a select few that don’t.

“Unfortunately despite the outrage I highly doubt anything will come of it.”

UNSW spokeswoman Denise Knight said the university was investigating the matter.

“The University has zero tolerance for offensive behaviour of this nature and is taking immediate steps to investigate,’ UNSW said in a statement on Tuesday.

@shanebazzi @abcnewsSydney - it's scary to think they might take these attitudes into society? #baxtercollege

— Sheela (@OzSheela) April 12, 2016

MAJORITY OF INCIDENTS NOT REPORTED

A new National Union of Students survey shows that a quarter of students reported unwanted sexual experiences last year. One in five occurred in a public space such as the library, or class.

The survey claimed that 94 per cent did not report what had happened to the university, and 95 per cent did not report it to the police.

Many young people are confused about what sexual harassment and assault mean. Research by anti-violence group The Line late last year revealed that one in three 12 to 24-year-olds thought “exerting control over someone is not a form of violence”, and one in four young people did not think it was serious if a man who is normally gentle slaps his girlfriend while he is drunk.

One in six of the 3000 young respondents thought women should “know their place” and one in four thought it was normal for men to pressure women into sex.

A 2006 Australian Bureau of Statistics Personal Safety Survey found that 12 per cent of women aged 18-24 said they had experienced at least one incident of violence, while just 6.5 per cent of women aged 35-44 said the same.

In a groundbreaking move, universities have come together to launch a campaign against sexual violence, harassment and sexism in Australia’s tertiary education system. It comes ahead of the release of a hard-hitting US documentary exposing sexual assault on American campuses, institutional cover-ups and the toll on victims and their families.

The Hunting Ground made waves in the US after it revealed a culture of violence, misogyny and hush-ups on campuses around America, particularly among fraternities and elite college sports players.

While Australian universities appear to be partially protected by an absence of fraternities, high-profile sports teams and campus accommodation, vice-chancellors and sex discrimination leaders say the campaign is vital.

“This is an issue that needs focus and attention,” former sex discrimination commissioner Elizabeth Broderick told news.com.au.

“Thirty-nine universities have decided to come together and collect data. In other nations, especially the US, there’s been a fragmented approach, with each university working alone. Hopefully there can be a collective solution.”

The campaign, ‘Respect. Now. Always.’ is being run by Universities Australia, in conjunction with The Hunting Ground Australia Project, the Australian Human Rights Commission, the UNSW Australian Human Rights Centre.

It’s hoped it will make support services more visible and “raise awareness among the 1.3 million students in Australian universities that sexual assault and sexual harassment are unacceptable”.

Ms Broderick said it would also improve our understanding of what sexual harassment and assault are, speaking to specific moments in time: “If you’re in the library, what do you do?”

The Hunting Ground Australia Project is holding screenings of the documentary around the country and encouraging conversations about the experiences portrayed in the film and how they relate to Australian students.

Call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732) if you have experienced, or are at risk of, family and domestic violence and/or sexual assault.

Contact Lifeline to connect with a crisis service in your state on 131114.