Sexual misconduct on campus: How can NUS make things right?

Observers call for tougher policy against offenders, more sensitivity for victims and greater transparency in actions

NUS students and staff queueing up to attend a town hall held by the university last Thursday to address concerns over the Peeping Tom incident. Ms Monica Baey, who was filmed in a hall shower, sparked a public outcry over how NUS deals with sexual m
Many NUS undergrads felt that the punishments – a one-semester suspension, a ban from entering Eusoff Hall (above) where the offence took place and mandatory counselling – were too lenient for the perpetrator. ST PHOTO: GIN TAY
Many NUS undergrads felt that the punishments - a one-semester suspension, a ban from entering Eusoff Hall (left) where the offence took place and mandatory counselling - were too lenient for the perpetrator.
NUS students and staff queueing up to attend a town hall held by the university last Thursday to address concerns over the Peeping Tom incident. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
NUS students and staff queueing up to attend a town hall held by the university last Thursday to address concerns over the Peeping Tom incident. Ms Monica Baey, who was filmed in a hall shower, sparked a public outcry over how NUS deals with sexual m
Ms Monica Baey, who was filmed in a hall shower, sparked a public outcry over how NUS deals with sexual misconduct. ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG
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Does the National University of Singapore (NUS) know how to handle sexual offences? Going by the way it had treated a recent case involving two of its students, many members of the public and students do not think so.

A female undergraduate's frustrated Instagram posts after she was filmed in a hall shower has, in the last week, sparked a public outcry over how NUS deals with sexual misconduct, leading the university to apologise several times, and set up a committee to review its disciplinary framework.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on April 28, 2019, with the headline Sexual misconduct on campus: How can NUS make things right?. Subscribe