A student-led group highlighting rape and sexual misconduct allegations at St Andrews University says it cannot agree to mediation with the institution.
Within 30 hours of being active, St Andrews Survivors was sent more than 100 anonymous claims of sexual abuse or assault from people from their time at the university.
The university’s Proctor Professor Clare Peddie said the institution takes the testimonies “seriously”.
An online post from the group claims it was asked by the university’s head of mediation and wellbeing for discussions to remain confidential, something to which it has refused to agree.
A St Andrews Survivors spokesperson said: “Under the terms of strict confidentiality presented to us, we would not be able to disclose any of the contents of our ‘mediation’ meetings to others.
“We do not feel safe or comfortable engaging in these discussions under confidentiality.
“The university has yet to make a public statement acknowledging the issue of sexual abuse in our community that has recently been brought to light.
“Of all our concerns, we simply cannot budge on the issue of confidentiality. Under confidentiality we would not be able to transparent with you all about the progress being made or openly collect feedback from the voices we want to inform these changes.”
The group adds the mediator must be neutral to ensure fairness for both parties.
A spokeswoman for St Andrews University insisted the group has “categorically” not been asked to sign a confidentiality agreement and has been invited to engage in a consultation with a range of student groups and societies.
“We suggested that these discussions should respect confidentiality in the first instance for their protection and to provide a safe space for discussion, given the trauma that survivors of sexual misconduct have experienced and that dialogue may involve disclosure of deeply personal information,” she said.
“Our consultation is being led by our head of mediation and wellbeing, who is also the policy lead for gender-based violence and chair of our equally safe committee, which involves students and staff from across the university.
“Her skills as a mediator are relevant because we want to bring a trauma-informed approach to these communications.
“Mediation provides a framework that helps us recognise dialogue and negotiation as a possible stress-setting, socially demanding, and potentially triggering. In response, it provides a confidential arena in which parties can hold discussions, recognising power disparities and personal experiences, with the objective of agreeing next steps.
“Our head of mediation has reached out to the Survivors group to offer to support them to contribute, with the aim of ensuring they are safe, secure, and empowered to connect. The group has rejected this offer, and it is regrettable that they have misrepresented the university’s position.
“The Proctor has offered to meet with them next week to explain the process again and encourage them to engage, and it is self-evidently untrue to say that we have insisted on mediation as the only form of communication.
“It would be a mistake to assume only one group can speak for all communities in St Andrews who may be affected by sexual misconduct. The Survivors are one of several groups with whom we plan to engage.”
