Degrees of Abuse – Harriet’s Oxford Story | Al Jazeera Investigations

Summary

A graduate student at Oxford, battling chronic illness, shares her harrowing experience of sexual assault, victimization, and institutional neglect. Despite multiple health challenges, including endometriosis and nerve damage, she is subjected to further abuse by a college official, who manipulates her vulnerability. The college's response is dismissive, victim-blaming, and hostile, ultimately leading her to lose faith in academia. The student joins an activist group, realizing that her ordeal is part of a broader pattern of institutional failure to address sexual assault and protect vulnerable students. The college's actions serve to protect its reputation rather than support the survivors of abuse.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker's grandmother encouraged them to attend Oxford, but the experience became marred by personal struggles.
• 😀 The speaker initially aimed to pursue a career in academia, particularly in the field of biochemistry and gene therapy.
• 😀 The speaker has chronic health conditions, including endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and chronic gastritis, which have significantly impacted their mental health.
• 😀 Despite the speaker’s health challenges, the college failed to provide adequate support and assigned a personal acquaintance to oversee their well-being.
• 😀 The man assigned to the speaker's care initiated inappropriate physical contact while they were severely ill and under the influence of morphine, leading to allegations of sexual assault and harassment.
• 😀 The college’s response to the assault report was dismissive, focusing on protecting the reputation of the alleged perpetrator rather than investigating the incident thoroughly.
• 😀 The speaker was advised by the college chaplain to be cautious about pursuing the sexual assault case, as it could negatively affect the assailant’s life.
• 😀 The college failed to collect or review substantial evidence provided by the speaker, including eyewitness testimonies and medical documentation.
• 😀 The college’s non-academic disciplinary procedure allowed them to dismiss the complaint without proper investigation, citing a lack of a police report as a reason.
• 😀 The college increasingly marginalized the speaker, imposing moralistic conditions on their disability accommodations, further victimizing them for reporting the assault.
• 😀 The speaker joined an activist group, 'It Happens Here,' where they learned their experience of victimization was part of a broader, systemic issue affecting many others at the university.
• 😀 The speaker believes the university’s primary concern is protecting its reputation rather than addressing reports of sexual assault, contributing to a culture of intimidation and victim blaming.
• 😀 The speaker's passion for academia and the university system has been permanently impacted by their experience, leaving them disillusioned with the institution's treatment of students.

Q & A

What were the primary health issues that the student was dealing with during her time at Oxford?

The student suffered from multiple chronic health conditions, including endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, and chronic gastritis, which caused constant abdominal pain. She also had nerve damage from a previous surgery, further complicating her health challenges.

How did the student's initial expectations of Oxford differ from her actual experience?

Initially, the student was excited to join Oxford due to its academic reputation and its beauty. However, her experience turned disillusioning when she encountered neglect and victimization, especially in dealing with her sexual assault and health issues.

What role did the college and its staff play in the student's experience with sexual assault?

The college staff, including individuals in positions of authority, failed to support the student appropriately after she reported the sexual assault. They dismissed her concerns, victim-blamed her, and did not investigate her allegations properly, instead focusing on maintaining the college's reputation.

How did the college respond when the student reported the sexual assault?

When the student reported the sexual assault, the college took no meaningful action. The head of welfare, Bruce Kingsley, advised her to be wary of the potential impact on the assailant’s life. The college then decided to take no further steps in relation to the complaint, citing a policy framework that essentially left the student with no recourse.

What was the significance of the student's interaction with the Oxford activist group 'It Happens Here'?

The student found solidarity in the activist group 'It Happens Here,' where she learned that her experience was not unique. The group provided a platform for sharing stories of institutional abuse, victimization, and intimidation that were prevalent among other students as well.

How did the student's experiences affect her outlook on academia?

The student's experience deeply impacted her view on academia. She became disillusioned with the university system and felt that it was 'rotten from the core.' Her trust in academic institutions was shattered, and she expressed that she would never be the same person again after the ordeal.

What were the specific challenges related to the student's disability access accommodations?

The student faced additional challenges in receiving her disability access accommodations. The college conditioned the provision of accommodations on her compliance with unrelated moral and behavioral expectations, such as avoiding heavy drinking, which were imposed without any prior incidents or justification.

How did the college handle the student's request to provide evidence for her claims?

The college showed indifference when the student wanted to present evidence for her claims. Despite her having documentation, eyewitnesses, and other forms of evidence, they refused to accept or consider them properly, leaving the student frustrated and unheard.

What was the impact of the student's health condition on her academic performance?

The student's chronic health conditions and the trauma from sexual assault severely impacted her academic performance. The physical pain, combined with the emotional toll of being ignored and mistreated by the institution, affected her ability to engage with her research and studies.

What was the college's official statement regarding the student's allegations and accommodations?

The college officially stated that it takes any allegation of sexual assault very seriously and investigates within their policy framework. They also claimed to offer generous support to students with disabilities or health challenges to help them complete their studies, although the student’s personal experience contradicted this statement.