The University College London has apologized to current and former students and staff for a “culture of unacceptable behavior” at its architectural school that dates back decades.
The apology comes after the university conducted an investigation into complaints of sexism and racism on campus, first reported by the Guardian last year.
“I want to apologize to all those who have suffered because of the culture of harassment, harassment and sexual misconduct at Bartlett School of Architecture,” said Michael Spence, president and rector of UCL, in response to the findings of the internal investigation.
The investigation, which began in October 2021, ended in mid-April with findings detailed in a 119-page report by Howlett Brown, an intelligence company specializing in employee investigations and appointed by the university as an impartial investigator.
In the report, Howlett Brown said he had learned some “awkward truths and some” open secrets “about the BSA”, citing power, protectionism, a “boys’ club” culture that allows for lack of accountability and fear of speaking “involved in BSA tissue over a long period of time ”.
The investigation included 49 individual interviews, focus groups, written statements and a survey of more than 300 respondents.
A dossier shared with the Guardian in 2021 and cited in the final report includes feedback from 21 people who claim to have “systemic” problems in Bartlett. Reviews of a student who experienced sexism during her studies at the institution in 2000 suggest that inappropriate comments have been made about her appearance and race, and say that female students have sometimes been brought to tears.
“Their testimony reveals an unforgivable and destructive subjugation to harassment and other unacceptable behavior that is completely at odds with the values on which UCL is based,” Spence said. “We must and will absolutely deal with this quickly and decisively.”
The report says serious allegations “spanning the past three decades” include a number of officials who allegedly made sexist comments and verbally attacked female students, in addition to alleged misogynistic, discriminatory and anti-Semitic behavior.
One participant said they were told by a teacher “you should be grateful for what your family has immigrated to”. Another former student said that “the environment is very toxic, especially for women, working class people and people of color.” A student who said she was raped by a fellow student did not share this with staff members as she was not sure she “had a network”.
Other staff members allegedly touched students inappropriately, partyed with students while taking drugs, and met with students during their stay at the school.
The report, which says problems began to emerge in the early 1990s, also cites “varying degrees of complacency” among other staff members, described as complicit in their inaction and exacerbated by a lack of oversight, accountability or action.
The report called on the university to further investigate allegations about BSA staff, recommending a change in the structure of hiring teachers, staff training and offering long-term options for counseling and support.
Citing an “inherent power imbalance,” the report said the university’s personal relations policy, which has a total ban on relationships with people under the age of 18, fails to protect students from sexual harassment and inappropriate behavior.
Christoph Lindner, dean of the Bartlett School of Civil Engineering, which is home to the Bartlett School, said: “This report contains shocking evidence and highlights a number of unforgivable incidents.
Following the report, a number of staff from the School of Architecture were removed from service students and administrative duties with “immediate effect”, according to the university, while further investigations were carried out.
Lindner said: “It is time to have some difficult conversations about how we are violating existing structures of privilege and power, freeing up space and opportunities for those who have previously been marginalized.
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