By Hadjer Khiati
Quite often students get harassed inside or outside the campus, physically or verbally, and most of these victims feel rather ashamed of themselves and are afraid to report the case to the authority. In some cases, the victims received threats from the harasser and this would stop them from reporting the case as well.
Quoting from a victim of sexual harassment who is an IIUM student, and she said, œI think as a victim, the issue I am facing is not that severe but I do feel ashamed to talk about it.
Sexual harassment could be in different forms which are an offence whether it is close proximity, misconduct, inappropriate physical touch and making gestures, symbols, jokes or inappropriate eye contact as reported by the students.
In IIUM, 21 out of 37 students claimed that they are sure that they have been sexually harassed. On the other hand, 15 out of 37 students claimed that they do not or are not so sure what to do if they are sexually harassed.
Perhaps many are not aware of the procedures that they need to go through in such a situation.
The Office of Security Management (OSEM) and the office of the Legal Adviser are two main
entities in charge of any kind sexual misconduct and other disciplinary forms of behaviours faced by the students within the campus.
In IIUM, students facing sexual harassment have to report the case to the security office, that is the Office of Security Management (OSEM), situated near the main gate of the university. After reporting the matter to this office, the case will be recorded and it would go to the investigation unit which is responsible to get statements from both the victim and the accused as stated in the report.
After the investigation, the disciplinary authority may proceed with disciplinary hearing. The officer will explain to the accused student the offence committed by him and will call on him to appeal and defend himself of the case.
If the student pleads not guilty of the offence, the disciplinary board will examine any witness in support of the case against the student, and it is not necessary to prove the intention to commit such an offence. The student will be invited to give evidence, call any witness to the defence, and he will then wait for the pronouncement of a decision.
Should the accused pleads guilty of the offence, the disciplinary board shall pronounce its decision in the case. If the student is found guilty of a disciplinary offence he shall be liable to any one or any appropriate combination of two or more of the legal punishments as stated in the Students Discipline Rules.
After the pronouncement of the decision, the case is not closed as yet – all disciplinary proceedings taken under the case will be recorded and registered, the name of the student, the disciplinary offence, the progress of the proceeding, and the result of the proceeding will be recorded and a written letter from the disciplinary hearing will be sent to the students parent or guardian. In the case of a scholarship student, the letter will be sent to the sponsor of the scholarship.
So long as the student knows of the consequences of this behaviour, it might reduce the tendency to commit the offence, and might encourage and enhance the students who are victims to talk about it and help the authority to minimise the problem. ***