On Monday 26 February, End Rape on Campus revealed ‘The Red Zone Report’ which
exposes vile college rituals and abuse at universities across the country, along with the
complete failure of colleges to address rape and misogyny within their own communities.
“The Red Zone Report details nearly a century of abuse at USyd Colleges. We know that for
decades students and survivors have been urging universities to address sexual violence within
their communities. But these calls for change have been put at the bottom of the agenda. As a
result, we have seen the same stories of sexual assault and institutional betrayal emerging time
and time again” says Imogen Grant, USyd SRC President.
“O-Week is one of the most dangerous weeks of the year for students. Sexual assault service
providers receive a spike in calls from university students and one in eight attempted or
committed rapes at USyd colleges will happen this week.”
“Despite many colleges claiming that hazing is ‘opt-in’, students are coerced into participating
often directly or indirectly by knowing that refusing to take part will result in extreme social
ostracism due to the insider-outsider culture.”
“Hazing normalises a culture whereby personal boundaries and consent are ritually violated and
contributes to a culture whereby students with more power feel entitled to the bodies of those in
marginal positions.”
“For too long these colleges and their councils have protected acts of misogyny, racism and
homophobia by their residents. At the end of the day, this is a structural problem that is
entrenched in the college acts. It’s not going to just be changed in a shakeup of council and
consent training.”
“The colleges at the University of Sydney have proven themselves time and time again to be
islands of impunity that operate under different laws and standards than the university on which
they stand and the broader community.”
“The current arrangement which was enacted to ensure freedom from religious interference has
led to a culture of militant entitlement and bullying.”
“At a time when students of low-to-moderate-income struggle to obtain a degree with the lack of
affordable accommodation preventing equitable access, that these colleges are allowed to
operate in such ways is absurd.”
We reject the entitled culture of bullying that colleges foster and call on the federal and state
governments, colleges and the University of Sydney to accept the recommendations of The Red
Zone Report in full.
Imogen Grant, SRC President and 2017 Women’s Officer, Jessica Syed , SRC 2018 Women’s Officer, Maddy Ward , SRC 2018 Women’s Officer
