Graduate Students are “Making a Big Fuss”: Responding to Institutional Betrayal Around Campus Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment

“I had no power whatsoever”: Graduate student survivors’ experiences disclosing sexual harassment to mandatory reporters

“…Our findings illustrate the need for additional research on accommodations that can be offered by university Title IX offices, such as quantitative research examining how frequently different types of accommodations are offered to (and wanted by) graduate student survivors and qualitative research on graduate student survivors' perceptions of how helpful and appropriate typical accommodations are for their experiences. Recent research by Bloom et al (2022) has identified the importance of assessing, evaluating, and improving existing university sexual harassment resources and services based on solicited input from graduate students.…”

“…Moreover, the survivors in our study frequently viewed faculty advisors and mentors as a trusted source of interpersonal support. Of course, as previously outlined, this is not always the case: graduate students are often harassed by faculty—including their advisors—and the existing academic hierarchy of power and privilege leaves graduate students vulnerable to such abuse (Bloom et al., 2022; O'Callaghan et al., 2021; Rosenthal et al., 2016). Still, our findings suggest that mandated reporting policies may undermine or subvert safe faculty‐graduate student relationships by mandating a faculty advisor to act outside of their expertise and in ways that the graduate student does not want and is not prepared for.…”

“…For instance, offered accommodations such as changing classes and moving student housing may be relevant for undergraduates who take, for example, many large classes and live in university‐sponsored housing, but less relevant for graduate students who take relatively fewer classes (many of which are small and infrequently offered) and live off‐campus. Given the prevalence of sexual harassment among graduate students in U.S. institutions (Bloom et al., 2022; Lorenz et al., 2019; Rosenthal et al., 2016), accommodations and supportive measures that meet graduate student survivor needs are essential to ensuring that Title IX offices are equipped to support all students who experience sexual harassment. Our findings illustrate the need for additional research on accommodations that can be offered by university Title IX offices, such as quantitative research examining how frequently different types of accommodations are offered to (and wanted by) graduate student survivors and qualitative research on graduate student survivors’ perceptions of how helpful and appropriate typical accommodations are for their experiences.…”

“…Sexual harassment of graduate students is a pervasive issue in higher education (Bloom et al., 2022; Lorenz et al., 2019; Rosenthal et al., 2016), with post‐baccalaureate students in all graduate degree fields reporting experiencing frequent sexual harassment within educational spaces (Binder et al., 2018; Boyle & McKinzie, 2021; Rosenthal et al., 2016). Title IX is a civil rights law prohibiting sex‐based discrimination—including sexual harassment—within educational institutions receiving federal funding.…”

“…Although graduate students are sexually harassed by many different members of the campus community (e.g., undergraduate students, graduate students, administration, staff), faculty are often the perpetrators of sexual harassment against graduate students (Rosenthal et al., 2016). The existing academic hierarchy positions graduate students as largely dependent on their faculty advisors and other faculty members for mentorship and career opportunities (e.g., publication, teaching, grants and awards, funding, letters of recommendation) during and long after they leave graduate school, leaving them particularly vulnerable to sexual harassment by faculty members (Bloom et al., 2022; O'Callaghan et al., 2021).…”