Intro will go here
Contents
- Scenario 1 - If you have been sexually assaulted
- Scenario 2 - If you feel like your ex-partner is harassing or stalking you
- Scenario 3 - If you’re not sure if you consented last night
- Scenario 4 - If you’re walking home at night and feel like someone is following you
- Scenario 5a - If someone gropes you at the gym
- Scenario 5b - If someone gropes you on campus (image shows a lecture)
- Scenario 5c - If someone gropes you in HIVE
- Scenario 5d - If someone gropes you in QMU
- Scenario 6 - If someone you trusted shares your nudes. This is a criminal offence.
- Scenario 7 - If they remove the condom without your consent. This is a crime.
- Scenario 8a - if you think you’ve been spiked at the QMU
- Scenario 8b - If you think you’ve been spiked at the GUU
- Scenario 8c - If you think you witness someone being spiked while in a club
- Scenario 9a - If you feel intimidated by a member of your club
- Scenario 9b - If you feel intimidated by a member of your society
- Scenario 10 - If you feel a member of University Staff has been inappropriate towards you
Scenario 1 - If you have been sexually assaulted
Online reporting tool; attend various services who can support and aid in supporting if chosen
Definition of sexual assault from NHS:
Help after rape and sexual assault - NHS
A sexual assault is any sexual act that a person did not consent to, or is forced into against their will. It is a form of sexual violence and includes rape (an assault involving penetration of the vagina, anus or mouth), or other sexual offences, such as groping, forced kissing, child sexual abuse, or the torture of a person in a sexual manner.
Sexual assault is an act that is carried out without the victim's active consent. This means they didn't agree to it. It is not uncommon for a victim of sexual assault to have no physical injuries or signs of their assault. But sexual assault is still a crime and can be reported to the police in the same way as other crimes.
From ScotGov:
Resources | Rape Crisis Scotland
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted:
- You do not have to cope on your own
- There are many support services which can help you. They know how difficult it is for people to come forward
- They will respect you and believe you
- You are not to blame.
- The person who raped or assaulted you is to blame
If you need to speak to someone now phone the Rape Crisis Scotland National Helpline on 08088 01 03 02 (daily 6pm-12 midnight).
Which services?
- Sexual assault services in Glasgow
- Immediate practice help:
- Medical assistance can be found at the Sandyford - which also houses Archway, which is Glasgow’s sexual assault referal centre.
- Inform Advisor of Studies about possible absences and support
- Contact the university first responders enquire about emergency counseling
- Reporting: It is entirely the choice of the survivor whether they wish to report, however this may be done
- through the University - first responders are contactable through the reporting form;
- To the police - (info from NHS website) You don't have to report the assault to the police if you don't want to. You may need time to think about what has happened to you. If you want the crime to be investigated, the sooner a forensic medical examination takes place, the better. Try not to wash or change your clothes immediately after a sexual assault. This may destroy forensic evidence that could be important if you decide to report the assault to the police.
(from ScotGov)The police offer all those reporting crimes of sexual violence, who are over 16, a direct referral to Rape Crisis Scotland. If you accept the referral, Rape Crisis Scotland will contact you within three days to offer support.
- Longer term help:
- Potentially continued academic support for good cause
- Counselling
- Victim Support Scotland - provide practical and emotional support for victims of crime. They are experienced in working with women and men who have been raped or sexually assaulted.
- For Ethnic Minority Women - Amina – Muslim Women’s Resource Centre providing confidential information, advice and listening ear for women; Hemat Gryffe Women’s Aid; Shakti Women’s Aid provide advice, support and safe refuge for black minority ethnic women experiencing domestic abuse
- For LGBTQI+ people LGBT Helpline: 0300 123 2523 (Tues & Wed 12pm-9pm) http://lgbt-helpline-scotland.org.uk
Scenario 2 - If you feel like your ex-partner is harassing or stalking you
Attend let’s talk workshop and module; Call them out
NOTE from Jamie: Should we link to some advice on stalking here? https://www.actionagainststalking.org/
Scenario 3 - If you’re not sure if you consented last night
Rosey Project whatsapp helpline; Sandyford; Archway
Scenario 4 - If you’re walking home at night and feel like someone is following you
Alert security on the UofG SafeZone App; Security Team can access your location and help you home?
Scenario 5a - If someone gropes you at the gym
You can report it to the UofG Sport staff, who will note the incident and can remove the individual from the premises.
From Glasgow University Sports Association:
"If any disciplinary issues arise in clubs, clubs in the first instance have the right to investigate this in accordance with our GUSA Code of Conduct and disciplinary process. Should they wish to seek support from GUSA, they can do so and continue to deal with the incident in-club should they wish, clubs differ slightly with how they investigate these but we recommend reports be taken and a committee (inclusive of the welfare convenor) investigates the accusation. We would only recommend this if the club feels comfortable doing so and if the accusations are lower-level.
Should accusations be more serious and/or clubs wish to pass the incident up, they are recommended to escalate it to GUSA. We then would investigate the incident, collect reports from the club and victims and hold a disciplinary hearing with a disciplinary committee made up of myself, UofG Club Sport Development Manager, and a UofG Sport staff member. We are looking to update this to include an external member, this which would preferably be a member of SRC staff and/or a GUSA Senior Council member, in accordance to availability. From this hearing, disciplinary action may be taken, this which can include the suspension from GUSA clubs and GUSA. A ban from UofG Sport (including facilities) can also be taken, in partnership with GUSA and UofG Sport if deemed appropriate.
If deemed a more serious issue than we feel comfortable dealing with, we will escalate this further to the Senate for Student Conduct for investigation through the University. If a case is escalated, we tend to suspend the member accused from GUSA clubs and GUSA immediately while the investigation is underway to safeguard fellow members.
On top of this process, we also highlight clubs and victims can contact the Police, should they wish and feel comfortable enough to do so. We ask that should any disciplinary arise that clubs wish to escalate to GUSA, they can contact GUSA President, GUSA Welfare or any member of GUSA Council and/or UofG Sport staff member they feel most comfortable getting in contact with. Every case is different so we ensure we deal with them individually and always provide extensive support and resource links to be distributed to anyone affected.
GUSA also has a PWS network who are available to talk to students and members, should they want any peer support. Our first round of trained up peer wellbeing supporters have just started accepting sessions now which is great news."
Scenario 5b - If someone gropes you on campus
Visit SRC Advice Centre and report it if you feel comfortable, get support from rape crisis; access support or open an investigation via the reporting tool
The SRC Advice Centre offers free and confidential advice on a wide range of subjects and is a Third Party Reporting Centre for Hate Crime.
If the perpetrator of the assault is a student of the University, the Advice Centre team can also assist you with reporting them to the University under the Code of Student Conduct. This process normally requires that you submit a written statement to the University providing details of the assault and can result in disciplinary action being taken against the offending student.The advice centre can support you or advise you, confidentially, on any of these processes.
Visit Sexual Violence Support & Resources (glasgowunisrc.org) to get more information, advice or contact details.
Scenario 5c - If someone gropes you in HIVE
Approach a member of duty board/bar staff for help; report via GUU internal discipline procedure
From Glasgow University Union:
"The GUU stands in solidarity with survivors of sexual violence. We are actively working to tackle this systemic issue, both within our own operations by creating a safer social space on campus and also in collaboration with the other student bodies to promote the education surrounding gender based violence to the wider UofG community.
The Board of Management and the staff of the GUU have worked together to evaluate, improve and expand the safety procedures in place within our building. These reviews will be ongoing and we will continue to work hard on these measures.
Student Board members are always on hand and available to help should students have any concerns. We are constantly working to train our Board of Management, staff and security to be prepared should any issue arise. If you subtly need to ask for help, we also operate the Ask for Angela scheme.
This year, we saw the introduction of a safe space which is operated at all times on club nights. This resource is used if ever a student needs a quiet space for whatever reason on a night out. Phone chargers are also available in this space.
Our security will continue to monitor the building and searches will be conducted when entering on a club night. We have also increased the surveillance of our building through added CCTV cameras.
We continue to do all that we can do to ensure the safety of students is not compromised in the building so we can offer the best possible experience for our members."
Scenario 5c - If someone gropes you in QMU
Approach a member of duty board/bar staff for help; they’ll record the incident and support you while reporting it
From Queen Margaret Union:
"Queen Margaret Union has from its very foundation made it a priority to safeguard equality and inclusion among the student body. Currently, we at QMU are extremely dedicated to ensuring that all, especially disadvantaged minorities, feel entirely safe and supported on our premises and within our organisation. Since 2019, QMU’s commitment to fighting gender-based violence has been reflected by our Zero Tolerance Policy, which is signposted all throughout the building and our online platforms. The policy officially condemns any and all bullying, hate speech and unwanted sexual behaviour as grounds for a disciplinary investigation and further action on our part. In more recent times, we have committed to improving our safety measures in regards to club nights and bigger events by establishing the Ask for Angela policy on our premises, allowing anyone to safely and discreetly approach our duty staff for help. We have created safe zones for anyone to gather themselves in and get some space during nighttime events, increased our CCTV coverage and our security is trained to conduct thorough bag searches upon entry. We also work closely along Rape Crisis Glasgow, both in regards to providing informative sessions for our Sexual Health and Awareness Week; and organising future awareness training for our board and staff is in the works."
Scenario 6 - If someone you trusted shares your nudes. This is a criminal offence.
It may help to confide in a friend, as you shouldn’t feel ashamed. You can report it to the police via 101; get support via Glasgow Rape Crisis or Women’s Aid or the Revenge Porn helpline
If someone has shared revealing or intimate photos or videos of you, or is threatening to share them, this is a crime in Scotland. It's a crime to show intimate images or videos, send them to another person, upload them to a website, or threaten to do this, without your consent. This includes so called 'revenge porn'.
The law comes from the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016. There's a similar offence in England and Wales.
It’s not a crime to send intimate images or videos of yourself privately to another person if you're both consenting adults.
Having images shared of you can also bring a lot of shame, but remember you have not done anything wrong and people and services are there to help and support you.
For more information of what constitutes a crime, and steps you can take if you believe this has happened to you visit:
Scenario 7 - If they remove the condom without your consent. This is a crime.
You can go to the Sandyford for an STI Screening and confidential advice; you can report this as an assault to the university and/or police
Also known as ‘stealthing’, the act of removing or deliberately damaging a condom during sex without getting explicit consent from the other person is unacceptable and a crime.
This exposes a partner to potential pregnancy, sexually transmitted diseases and shows a complete lack of respect.
Visit or contact the SRC Advice Centre they can support you if you wish to report this to the university or police.
The Sandyford Archway can assist you in screening for an STI, check for pregnancy and provide confidential advice. They can also take a sample of DNA that can be stored and used as evidence if you wish to report the incident at a later date.
Scenario 8a - If you think you’ve been spiked at the QMU
Approach the bar and ask for angela; a member of the QMU Board or staff will stay with you for support and get further medical support if needed.
You can approach any member of staff and ask for ‘Angela’, which allows you to safely and discreetly inform a member of staff that you are not feeling safe who can then help you.
Both unions have testing kits available.
Scenario 8b - If you think you’ve been spiked at the GUU
Approach the bar and ask for angela; a member of the GUU Board or staff will stay with you for support and get further medical support if needed.
You can approach any member of staff and ask for ‘Angela’, which allows you to safely and discreetly inform a member of staff that you are not feeling safe who can then help you.
Both unions have testing kits available.
Scenario 8c - If you think you witness someone being spiked while in a club
Inform the staff (bar or security) of the incident; you may feel comfortable helping the person to a safe place where they can seek medical assistance and contact the police.
Spiking
Definition from FRANK:
To spike a drink means to put alcohol or drugs into someone's drink without their knowledge or permission. The aim may be to incapacitate someone enough to rob or sexually assault them, although sometimes it is just intended as a joke – a bad joke as it is very dangerous.
There is also some concern at the possibility that people are being ‘spiked’ by needles/syringes containing drugs. Although this is much less likely than drink spiking, many of the same tips for staying safe can protect you here too. Spiking is a criminal offence and venues should take steps to ensure they are safe places to be, but you still need to protect yourself, particularly if you feel unsafe.
If your drink has been spiked or you've been injected with an unknown substance, and you think you've been sexually assaulted, go to your nearest sexual assault referral centre (SARC) for specialist care and support. In Glasgow, the SARC is Archway which is within Sandyford Medical Centre.
If you've been spiked but have not been sexually assaulted, call 111 for urgent medical advice if you have any symptoms you're worried about.
Scenario 9a - If you feel intimidated by a member of your club
Speak to your club welfare rep, or the GUSA Welfare Convenor, who can support you to report the incident; you can report it to UofG staff and make a report on the university online reporting tool .
Please see information on GUSA's report and support process at Scenario 5a.
Scenario 9b - If you feel intimidated by a member of your society
Speak to your society welfare rep, or the Advice Centre, who can support you to report the incident; you have options and it is your choice what to do next
Scenario 10 - If you feel a member of University Staff has been inappropriate towards you
You may choose to access 3rd party support; the SRC can also support and advise on next steps.