One in four LGBTI Otago University students experience harassment at the University, with at least five students reporting harassment in a campus office. The poor treatment of LGBTI students is one of the areas of concern highlighted by a recent survey commissioned by the Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA), instigated by former OUSA Queer* Support Coordinator Neill Ballantyne. The first survey of its kind at a New Zealand university, it also revealed that over half of all 356 LGBTI students surveyed felt they had to hide their identity to avoid harassment and one in ten had feared for their physical safety over the past year. Harassment was defined as experiencing situations that interfered considerably with the person’s ability to work, learn, feel successful on campus or that created an intimidating, unfriendly, hostile or offensive environment. It was most commonly perpetrated by other students and in public spaces or in the Halls of Residence. Despite experiences of harassment, the majority of survey respondents felt the University of Otago provides visible resources on support for LGBTI students and that the OUSA Queer* Support service is an open, safe and inclusive one. Based on the findings of the survey, the report recommends that the University implements ongoing LGBTI related training for all University support services and staff, and calls for initiatives to raise awareness of LGBTI issues on and off campus. On top of this, it recommends that equitable access to facilities such as gender neutral toilets is ensured, it calls for efforts to address discrimination experienced by LGBTI people and that it highlights the ongoing importance of the OUSA Queer* Support service. OUSA Queer* Support Coordinator Hahna Briggs, who took over the role in 2014, says that the findings of the survey will be used to plan future development of the support service. Briggs highlighted the work that the OUSA Queer* Support service has undertaken recently and says this year the service ran a campaign to highlight some of issues transgender and gender diverse students face when using gender segregated toilets. “My aim was to encourage respectful and informed conversations amongst the campus community, and the campaign has led to increased awareness and increased availability of gender-neutral toilets in parts of campus including the OUSA Clubs and Societies building.” University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne has commented on the findings of the survey, and says “We want all of our students to feel safe and valued at the University of Otago. I am pleased that, by and large, LBGTAQ students have a positive perception of life on campus, but I am also keen to make sure that these students, like all students, feel supported here.” The survey follows news earlier this year that a number of Auckland University LGBTI students in Halls of Residence are concerned for their wellbeing following a number of aggressive homophobic incidents.
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 23rd November 2016 - 12:47pm