For whom it may concern,

I am a third year student at this university and I am emailing to complain about the recent rise in spiking at Guild events (Fab and Fresh and Sports night) and to protest what I feel has been a poor response from the Guild.

Spiking is not a new issue at this University whatsoever and a solution to this problem should have been proposed long ago to prevent such a dramatic rise from occurring in the first place. I am aware of at least 2 reported incidents of spiking from last Saturday's Fab and Fresh Halloween event from those brave enough to come forward. The fact that drinks are being spiked and people are being spiked with needles on campus is appalling, especially since this University owes its students a duty of care and has a responsibility to keep us safe. Women at this university should not feel unsafe at Guild events or have to spend their whole evening worrying about being spiked when they should be having fun with their friends. This university needs to take this matter far more seriously and acknowledge that they have a deep-rooted issue with rape culture that they need to tackle directly and take accountability for.

I am aware that the Guild has made various statements about how they plan to tackle this issue. People are able to ask for bottle covers at the bar, there are proposals for a chill out room, use of dogs, metal detectors and so on. I am also aware that the Guild has made a statement today about increasing security but this is not enough to make individuals feel safe, especially those minorities who have been targeted by bouncers and club staff in the past.

I have a few additional propositions that I want to make now before the upcoming forum. This is an urgent problem which needs to be tackled as quickly as possible-

There should be a medical team at the guild to help not just people who have been spiked but people who are dangerously drunk and therefore vulnerable to sexual assault and rape.

CCTV at the bar and bodycams on all Guild staff.

There should be drink covers for every drink and you shouldn't have to ask for them at the bar (I realise there has been a delay in getting drink covers because of demand but once they are available this should be put in place).

More information should be provided on how to report these crimes to the university and what the investigation will involve. The wellbeing of the victims should be prioritised in these inquiries.

Drink test kits should be provided on entry to events.

Everyone's student ID should be on record at every Guild event to make it easier to track down criminals.

Additionally, I have noticed that there has not been a serious statement made about the consequences for spiking, sexual assault or rape by the University. Both the Guild and the University have failed to provide any deterrence for spiking, sexual assault and rape and have instead focused on educating women on how to NOT to get spiked. The emphasis of the University's campaign should instead be on the consequences of spiking and why it shouldn't happen. This moves the responsibility of dealing with this problem away from women who are the victims of these crimes and onto the perpetrators. We should not have to worry about protecting ourselves on nights out when incidents like this shouldn't be happening in the first place.

I propose that

The consequences for being caught spiking or caught with a needle/ date rape drugs should be made very clear in a statement from the Guild. These consequences should be extremely harsh.

These consequences should be displayed on posters at all Guild events as a deterrence from spiking.

The university should begin providing mandatory education on rape, sexual assault, and the importance of consent. This could come in the form of mandatory workshops or lectures in freshers week or at another point in the term. Education is extremely important in preventing these crimes by ensuring that all individuals are aware that sexual assault/rape/spiking is completely unacceptable.

At this moment in time, the University has not done enough to deter people from spiking others and this problem would not be occurring if we didn't have a serious issue with rape culture. The University and the Guild must acknowledge the rape culture at this university and deal with it directly to prevent anyone else from getting spiked. Every person at this University should know that spiking, sexual assault, and rape are crimes that the University will not tolerate and take extremely seriously and I feel that if there was a more open discussion on these issues that seem to be taking place regularly I would feel a lot safer on campus.

Until I see these measures introduced or at least a serious discussion on this issue I will not be attending either Sports night or Fab and Fresh. I want to point out that women should not have to sacrifice their fun in order to boycott events and make institutions listen to their concerns. Unfortunately, this situation has been allowed to get to such a serious point that this is our only option.

I hope that you take my concerns seriously and take immediate action.

Kind regards,

Madeline Kennedy.