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Learning inhumanity within seats of wisdom 

24 Mar 2022

  • UGC study report reveals depths of the abuse experienced by undergrads and even university staff
BY Sumudu Chamara Even though the university system is often dubbed as a place that reforms young people, ragging has been prevalent in many universities and even in higher educational institutions. While the matter has been discussed widely, the fact that acts amounting to ragging continue to affect students physically and psychologically raises a question as to what has been done to reduce ragging. The disturbing nature and prevalence of ragging and sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) were revealed in a study report titled “Prevalence of Ragging and SGBV in Sri Lankan State Universities”, which was released this week. The study was conducted by the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Centre for Gender Equity and Equality (CGEE) and was funded by the United Nations’ Children Fund (UNICEF). This is the first such islandwide study conducted by the UGC, and it focused on the situation in eight state universities. Contributors to the study were Prof. Kumudu Wijewardena as the senior consultant, and CGEE Director Prof. Hemamalie Gunatilaka and Senior Lecturers Dr. Dushan Jayawickrama and Dr. Ananda Rathnayake as consultants. Nature of ragging, SGBV Data for the study had been collected through interviews and focus group discussions after the relevant surveys were conducted between November 2018, and January 2019. Data analysis involved looking into the surveyed students’ experience of ragging and their backgrounds, the background of the perpetrators, the students’ experience of SGBV, the staff members’ perspective of SGBV, and about handling students’ complaints on ragging and SGBV. The study report revealed that more than half (2,920 – 51.1%) had experienced at least one form of act which is tantamount to verbal abuse. Around 2,296/41.8% had experienced the aggressive use of language such as being shouted at or scolded, while 1,661/32.1% had experienced name calling, verbal humiliation, and being made fun of. The percentage that had experienced threats of violence was 400/8.6%. Other forms of such treatment include being threatened with harm to their family if the student did not comply with the instructions of the abuser. It is noteworthy that most had experienced verbal aggression, shouting, and scolding during the early days of their university life. The report also revealed that 1,811/34.3% had faced at least one type of negative psychological experience. A total of 925/18.8% had said that other persons had controlled what they do, while 525/11.2% had said that rumours had been spread about them. A total of 511/10.7% had faced harassment via the phone. Among other forms of harassment that have affected students psychologically were being made to feel alone and social isolation, being treated as a child or a servant, and harassment through social media.  The types of harassment students experienced include physical harassment too, and according to the report, 1,206/23.8% had faced at least one type of such treatment. A total of 905/18.5% had been forced to engage in such physical acts in groups, and 521/10.9% had been forced to be exposed to severe weather conditions, do physical exercises, and stay in uncomfortable or painful positions for long periods of time. Some surveyed students (269 – 5.8%) had reported being subjected to physical force which had resulted in pain, discomfort, or injury. With regard to physical harassment, the report noted: “Participants highlight that they experienced severe physical ragging, such as sitting on the ground for long hours and having to do push-ups. They also explained the mental stress experienced due to severe scolding in front of a large gathering and the fear due to assault. Some of the participants emphasised that these experiences are unbearable.” These harassments extend to sexual harassment as well, and alarmingly, 804/16.8% had faced at least one type of sexual harassment in universities. Around 424/9.1% had been forced to write or say obscene words, and 336/7.3% had experienced unwelcome sexual comments or such jokes. The percentage who were stared or leered at was 291/6.4%. Among other forms of sexual harassment faced by students were being forced to engage in sexual relationships, being forced to perform sexual acts that the students found to be degrading or painful, being forced to watch pornographic material, and being forced to expose private parts. Ragging: Victims and perpetrators  The study also discussed the relationship between ragging experiences and the characteristics of victims. With regard to the frequency of such negative experiences in different academic years, the report showed that 739/14.6% first year students, 117/3.6% second year students, 75/4.4% third year students, 43/4.3% fourth year students, and 25/3.7% fifth year students had faced such treatment most of the time, while 1,884/37.3% first year students, 686/21.1% second year students, 184/10.8% third year students, 69/7% fourth year students, and 49/7.3% fifth year students had faced such treatment on a few occasions. The majority of students in each academic year, however, had not faced such treatments. Students had been ragged in various locations within university premises. These locations included canteens or common halls, hostels, lecture halls, labs, and grounds. Most such incidents had taken place in university canteens or common halls – 1,168 students a few times and 445 students most of the time. In addition, the report said: “It is significant to note that most of the participants from different universities highlighted that there are some common places in each university at which the ragging takes place. These places include the university playground, hostels, and student canteens and specific places identified by subcultures. As a result, it is evident in each university that there are distinct locations that are known for ragging. Apart from that, boys experience ragging even late in the night at premises such as university grounds. It is important to note that girls cannot enter hostels after 8.30 p.m., and that it is also prohibited for girls to be at the university premises after 8.30 p.m. The latter is a cultural norm in most of the universities. However, girls experience ragging in the night while at hostels. “The dress code is a significant mode of identifying first year students during the rag season. It is significant to note that there are specified dress codes for first year girls as well as for boys. Participants highlighted the difficulties they faced due to the requirements of adhering to a dress code. Thus, for girls, travelling in buses while wearing long skirts is difficult and for both boys and girls, buying new clothes to fit into the dress code is hard because of poor financial conditions. For some girls, wearing long skirts with plaited hair and travelling in buses had made them frustrated.” The report revealed that most of the time, ragging was done by one senior student or a group of senior students. Of the students who had reported being ragged a few times, a total of 1,202/30% had said that the perpetrators were a group of senior students, while 1,019/26.7% had said that the perpetrator was a senior student. Of them, 542/15.2% had said that the perpetrators were a group of peers, while in 509/14.3% cases, the perpetrator was a peer. Of the students who had reported being ragged most of the time, 518/12.9% had said that the perpetrators were a group of senior students, and 11.6% had said that the perpetrator was a senior student. Incidents where the perpetrator was a peer or the perpetrators were a group of peers constituted 190/5.3% and 214/6%, respectively. In some cases, the surveyed students had identified lecturers and academic staff, other university employees, members of the university administration, student unions, and student associations and societies as the perpetrators. The report also revealed that students who were staying in all forms of accommodation had been subjected to ragging. Of the surveyed students, 384/46.9% who were living at home, 632/41.1% who were living in a boarding house, and 201/40.5% who were living in an outside hostel, had faced ragging. The percentage of students living in university hostels who were reported to have been ragged was 1,161/34.6%. The study had also looked into the faculty in which the victims were studying. Even though students from every faculty, i.e. arts, management, medical, engineering, and other sciences, had reported being ragged, the highest percentage of cases had been reported from the arts faculties, while the lowest percentage of cases had been reported from the engineering facilities. With regard to the gender of the victims, the report showed that, of the surveyed students, male students constituted 728/37.5%, while female students constituted 1,607/38.6%. A total of 56/48.7% whose gender was not mentioned had said that they had been ragged. Regarding the background of the perpetrators, the report said: “Male students are more likely to be involved in ragging than female students, according to the analysis of the perpetrators’ characteristics. Ragging is also more common among students who are studying in their mother tongue and in the arts faculties. It can also be deduced that students involved in ragging have the following traits: they have previously been subjected to ragging, they do not have a thorough knowledge about the act of ragging and its sanctions, they have a low academic score at the General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A/L) examination, and they suffer from a variety of mental problems.” It was also noted in the report that students who participate in severe ragging have specific features such as hailing from rural backgrounds, coming from low-income households, living primarily in university dorms, and having had a troubled childhood.  It added: “Academic and non-academic staff members have indicated the presence of SGBV, although almost all incidents were reported only from one university. Accordingly, it is evident that 44% of the said university’s staff members were subjected to verbal and sexual violence, 22.3% of university staff members were requested sexual bribes, and 19.9% of university staff members had experienced physical sexual violence. (It is not mentioned as to who has perpetrated such against university staffers but there are some references to such taking place in the context of promotions). Further, quantitative analysis has shown that about 21% of students studying in public sector universities were subjected to verbal sexual violence and 27.9% of university students were embarrassed by the behaviour of other people. In addition, about 2.4% of state university students have been asked for sexual bribes by various parties. Another serious issue is that about 1.5% of students had sex without their consent. However, it is not indicated as to whether these incidents occurred only within the university. Going beyond ragging, in the qualitative analysis, evidence is presented on sexual harassment of students by academics. Though these occurrences may be few, the participants highlighted the difficulties the students, especially female students, faced due to such.” Impacts With regard to the physical and psychological impacts of ragging, the report showed that a considerable number of students had obtained medical care due to the impact of being ragged.  Out of 2,155 students who had said that they were ragged and sought medical treatment, 1,675/77.7% had stated that they obtained medical care once a semester or less, while 376/17.4% had stated that they obtained the same once a month. Around 104/4.8% of students had obtained such treatment more than once a month. As a result of mental health issues, the report said, some students had experienced sleep disorders. Of a total of 2,344 students who had been ragged, 1,054/45% had experienced sleep disorders.  The report read: “Going beyond the physical and mental harassment experienced by the participants, it is evident that there are negative effects of ragging on the academic performance of students. It is evident that first year students are getting marginalised during the rag season. Accordingly, they have restrictions in using certain facilities of the university and they fail to attend lectures due to long hours of ragging and taking part in protests. Further, they are unable to fulfil the attendance requirements and also face difficulties in meeting deadlines for the submission of assignments.” It also added that as per the views that were expressed by the students, there is a direct relationship between student politics and ragging. Regarding handling students’ complaints in terms of ragging and SGBV, it was noted: “It is clear that the students are not in a disposition to complain about ragging and SGBV. This is because they do not trust the mechanisms implemented by the university administration for preventing ragging, and moreover, believe that the university environment supports ragging and SGBV. When considering the procedures and mechanisms to address the issue of ragging, it can be concluded that even though the means to control ragging, such as the Prohibition of Ragging and Other Forms of Violence in Educational Institutions Act, and other controlling mechanisms are in place, noncompliance with these rules and regulations has resulted in the prevalence of ragging at universities.” Some students had also indicated a certain lethargy on the part of the university administration with regard to dealing with such incidents openly. This study has brought to light not only well-known facts, but also the impacts of ragging which are not discussed widely, unless in the case of a serious injury or death that makes headlines. The authorities’ next step should be taking steps to address the reasons and situations that cause ragging and protect the victims, and rid the university of this destructive act.


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