A group of Australian National University students have been disciplined by John XXIII College after displaying "unacceptable behaviour" during Orientation Week.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
News Corp reported that four students were suspended from the Catholic residence for the duration of Orientation Week after chanting sexual rhymes about "nailing" women. The college did not return Fairfax Media's calls.
ANU Deputy Vice-Chancellor Marnie Hughes-Warrington said the John XXIII College head had "formally advised the university of unacceptable behaviour involving some new residents during Orientation Week" and confirmed disciplinary action was taken.
"We have requested additional information from the head and students involved may face further disciplinary procedures from the university," she said.
"Sexist and harassing behaviour has no place at ANU."
John XXIII College residents' association president Lauren Clifton told ANU student publication Woroni the college had taken a zero tolerance approach.
"The severe disciplinary action really sets a precedent for returners and first years," she said.
Nine male students living in John XXIII were disciplined and five expelled last year after allegedly taking images of other students' breasts and rating them on Facebook.
ANU Students' Association women's officer Holly Hayoi Zhang called for the university and residential colleges to set positive norms against sexist behaviours through staff training, student education and taking "appropriate disciplinary measures".
"This is a typical instance of the kinds of sexist attitudes and behaviours which constitute the pervasive rape culture on the ANU campus (as well as our society at large), which normalises the disrespect and objectification of women, and results in violent acts which significantly and disproportionately impacts the well-being and safety of women students at the ANU," she said.
Nina Funnell, co-author of End Rape on Campus Australia's report Connecting the dots: Understanding sexual assault in university communities, encouraged the college to be cooperative with ANU's investigation of the incident.
"Recent events at John XXIII College are the tip of the iceberg in terms of what we know is occurring at that college and at other colleges across the country," she said.
"Excusing or minimising behaviour is not good enough. Colleges need to do far more than just scapegoat individuals, they need to reflect upon their own cultural practices from the top down."
