The renowned climatologist warns about the impunity of these acts and the lack of reaction from university authorities.
In recent weeks, Belgian universities – particularly in the north of the country – have been hit by a wave of revelations of sexual assaults within their walls. In the columns of the De Morgen newspaper, the climatologist Jean-Pascal van Ypersele reveals similar behaviour at the UCLouvain, where he works as a professor.
The doctor of physical sciences confided that he was aware of a dozen cases, affecting at least six different faculties. “The testimonies are well founded. It’s not rumours and gossip,” he insists. The assaults in question vary from inappropriate jokes about the dress of female colleagues or students, to hands on the buttocks, sexual advances and even physical assaults (beatings, forced embraces, etc.). An attempted rape was even reported.
Blatant impunity
What alarms the IPCC member is the blatant lack of reaction from the university authorities, who are generally aware of the facts. “The victims were gagged in at least three cases,” he explains. “There are never any sanctions worthy of the name. For example, the man who forced a woman to kiss him later became a dean,” the professor laments.
According to the expert, the perpetrators are often men in positions of responsibility, who are protected by the rectorate in the event of accusations. Some of the victims are intimidated or threatened in order to prevent complaints being made against university employees.
“It has to stop
The climate scientist emeritus is not speaking out today to “pillory” some of his colleagues, but to put an end to the system. “I have to prepare my work for the UN climate panel, but I also have to deal with these issues. I can’t stay silent,” he says. “What these women are experiencing at UCLouvain is a flagrant injustice. It has to stop. I would not forgive myself if I remained silent. I don’t want to be one of those who look away from the #MeToo movement at the university because it’s more comfortable,” concludes Jean-Pascal van Ypersele.
It’s not only about sexual abuse, although that’s probably the most extreme form.
The whole academic relationship between PhD advisor and PhD student can be highly problematic and is quite easy to abuse by a professor.
Doesnt surprise me at all. Given the power they have over young people. Some behave like little tyrants.
University professors can act like total assholes to their staff, which is especially unfair considering they got their positions in the hallowed days of yore when academia was a rewarding and lucrative profession, not the despair pit of insecurity and borderline poverty it is today for young researchers (my husband among them).
What strikes me more however is how this article makes Frontline news for a small number of minor incidents, and is just one in a line of dozens that have come out during the last few months claimimg systemic misogyny in universities with very little evidence (looking at you “multiple choices exams hurt women” articles on RTBF and Le Soir last week).
Meanwhile, a major gendered issues around universities, one that is a society-wide problem affecting a whole generation is completely ignored: the disappearance of boys.
Nowadays boys make up only barely 40% of degrees obtained in francophone universities (don’t know about Flanders) a number in sharp decline every year. They are being kicked out of education, make up less than 10% of students in some fields (notably psychology, where a balanced gender ratios is essential among practitioners for the good of patients), and not a word about that.
This all seems more like a politicaly motivated offensive by radical feminism cruising on #metoo than anything else.
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The renowned climatologist warns about the impunity of these acts and the lack of reaction from university authorities.
In recent weeks, Belgian universities – particularly in the north of the country – have been hit by a wave of revelations of sexual assaults within their walls. In the columns of the De Morgen newspaper, the climatologist Jean-Pascal van Ypersele reveals similar behaviour at the UCLouvain, where he works as a professor.
The doctor of physical sciences confided that he was aware of a dozen cases, affecting at least six different faculties. “The testimonies are well founded. It’s not rumours and gossip,” he insists. The assaults in question vary from inappropriate jokes about the dress of female colleagues or students, to hands on the buttocks, sexual advances and even physical assaults (beatings, forced embraces, etc.). An attempted rape was even reported.
Blatant impunity
What alarms the IPCC member is the blatant lack of reaction from the university authorities, who are generally aware of the facts. “The victims were gagged in at least three cases,” he explains. “There are never any sanctions worthy of the name. For example, the man who forced a woman to kiss him later became a dean,” the professor laments.
According to the expert, the perpetrators are often men in positions of responsibility, who are protected by the rectorate in the event of accusations. Some of the victims are intimidated or threatened in order to prevent complaints being made against university employees.
“It has to stop
The climate scientist emeritus is not speaking out today to “pillory” some of his colleagues, but to put an end to the system. “I have to prepare my work for the UN climate panel, but I also have to deal with these issues. I can’t stay silent,” he says. “What these women are experiencing at UCLouvain is a flagrant injustice. It has to stop. I would not forgive myself if I remained silent. I don’t want to be one of those who look away from the #MeToo movement at the university because it’s more comfortable,” concludes Jean-Pascal van Ypersele.
Translated with http://www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)
It’s not only about sexual abuse, although that’s probably the most extreme form.
The whole academic relationship between PhD advisor and PhD student can be highly problematic and is quite easy to abuse by a professor.
Doesnt surprise me at all. Given the power they have over young people. Some behave like little tyrants.
University professors can act like total assholes to their staff, which is especially unfair considering they got their positions in the hallowed days of yore when academia was a rewarding and lucrative profession, not the despair pit of insecurity and borderline poverty it is today for young researchers (my husband among them).
What strikes me more however is how this article makes Frontline news for a small number of minor incidents, and is just one in a line of dozens that have come out during the last few months claimimg systemic misogyny in universities with very little evidence (looking at you “multiple choices exams hurt women” articles on RTBF and Le Soir last week).
Meanwhile, a major gendered issues around universities, one that is a society-wide problem affecting a whole generation is completely ignored: the disappearance of boys.
Nowadays boys make up only barely 40% of degrees obtained in francophone universities (don’t know about Flanders) a number in sharp decline every year. They are being kicked out of education, make up less than 10% of students in some fields (notably psychology, where a balanced gender ratios is essential among practitioners for the good of patients), and not a word about that.
This all seems more like a politicaly motivated offensive by radical feminism cruising on #metoo than anything else.