St Andrews Ranks Third Highest for Sexual Misconduct Reports Among Scottish Universities

An investigation by The Daily Record has found the University of St Andrews to have the third highest number of sexual misconduct claims among Scottish universities. 

The recent article outlines data going back to 2021 from nineteen universities across Scotland. It states that the University of Edinburgh has the most claims with 127, followed by the University of Glasgow with 109, and the University of St Andrews coming third with 85 claims of sexual misconduct. According to the article, over the past five years, there have been more than 600 reports of sexual misconduct across Scottish universities — this figure, compared to those reported over the same period four years ago, has increased by 70%.

Rape Crisis Scotland Chief Executive Sandy Brindley told The Daily Record, “These are deeply troubling figures, particularly when you set them against the backdrop of increased sexual offending across Scotland. While an increase in reported incidents can signal growing confidence in the reporting process, I think we also need to confront the reality [that] it also signals a likely increase in sexual violence itself.”

Alex Chun, President of Wellbeing and Community, told The Saint: 

“Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) has been on the rise not just in the University sector, but in the United Kingdom as a whole. This rise in violence has been contrasted with a swell of support in St Andrews. In 2021, when The Daily Record article cites as the beginning of their data collection, many institutional and grassroots community actions rose in turn.

“That November, which marked the first year of students returning to campus post-lockdown, a Reclaim the Night march swept through town to protest SGBV. In the spring of 2022, the ‘What Were You Wearing?’ clothesline project by Got Consent? toured to great acclaim. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, the University and the Union worked alongside the EmilyTest group to reform our policies on student conduct and our reporting mechanisms.”

“Some examples include our compulsory consent module during online orientation, the anonymous reporting mechanism of Report and Support, and the continuation of the Night Bus. As a result, we were the first University to be awarded the EmilyTest Charter. While receiving this charter is an honour, it is also a stark reminder that safety is written in blood and voiced by grief.

“SGBV is an insidious subject — it is under researched, under sourced and often underbelieved. Furthermore, the reporting process can be just as painful as experiencing it. As an institution, it is our duty to both try to prevent incidents from happening and to make the reporting process as easy on individuals as possible. We have yearly consultations on the functions of Report and Support, as well as a constant anonymous feedback form on the website.

“When I worry about students — and I always worry — and what we as the Union can do to fight this rise in SGBV and sexual misconduct, I remember one of the most comforting things a colleague in Student Services has ever said to me: ‘Every report submitted results in action.’ While that action may not always be a visible outcome, the reports matter because they shape University policies and where funding goes. Even if these numbers can feel like they don’t show progress, I encourage everyone to use tools like Report and Support and the complaints submission process for the Union. Without these reports on the institution’s record, positive change is harder to implement.”

Of the University’s 85 reports of sexual misconduct, The Daily Record reported that 35 resulted in an investigation and 26 ended with disciplinary outcomes.

On 30 January, Emily Drouet, CEO of EmilyTest, released a statement: “Drawing firm conclusions from FOI statistics would be misleading, inaccurate, and irresponsible. Higher reporting figures often reflect stronger student trust and clearer, centralised data collection rather than higher levels of harm. Very low or absent figures, however, give cause for concern, as no university is exempt from these harms.”

In the article by The Daily Record, a Spokesperson for the Scottish Government also commented: “We are taking forward measures requiring colleges and universities to act to prevent Gender Based Violence and provide support for students experiencing abuse, as a condition of funding they receive from the Scottish Funding Council. This action will come about as a result of part of a new Scottish Government law that was passed last week, which we collaborated on with the organisation EmilyTest.” 

In response to The Daily Record’s report, a University spokesperson told The Saint:

“We agree with Sandy Brindley that there needs to be a focus on the quality and accessibility of support for survivors, something we have concentrated on at St Andrews.

“In our experience, and that of others, when provided with trauma-informed reporting routes and support, the number of survivors coming forward will increase.

“Sometimes it is those institutions reporting higher numbers of instances of sexual misconduct who are making the most progress by providing an environment in which survivors feel supported and able to report.

"All reports of incidents of a sexual nature are taken seriously by the University and support is offered. It is up to the reporter of such an incident to determine which options are most suitable to them and what action, if any, they wish to be taken by the University.

"The University’s definition of sexual misconduct covers a broad range of inappropriate, unwanted behaviour, from the most severe forms of sexual violence to unwanted touching, stalking, abusive or degrading remarks and across the vast range of inappropriate behaviour in between.  

"The University of St Andrews was the first in the UK to hold an EmilyTest Charter Award. EmilyTest accreditation requires institutions to have built and maintained an environment in which students are supported, encouraged, and empowered to report all instances of sexual misconduct. This may mean that, on a simple comparison, St Andrews’ figures appear higher than those at other institutions, where only assaults are recorded, or EmilyTest standards to encourage reporting of sexual misconduct are not in place.

“The University undertakes ongoing reviews of its processes to ensure we align with sector best practice and, in many areas, set the standard.”  

More information on the issues raised in this article can be accessed by Rape Crisis Scotland on their website https://www.rapecrisisscotland.org.uk/help-helpline/ or by calling the National Rape Crisis Helpline on 08088 01 03 02. Advice and support on reporting sexual assault from the University can be found by visiting https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/students/sexual-misconduct/

Image By Alden Arnold