Did the mocking Spotify list work?
Perhaps it did! Following pressure from students, the National University of Singapore has agreed to include student representatives into its sexual misconduct committee.
The committee was formed to look into a peeping tom incident involving one of its students, Monica Baey, who in April had taken to Instagram to voice her dissatisfaction with the manner the prestigious Singaporean university had handled her case.
Despite an apology from NUS president Tan Eng Chye, many pointed out that the committee was biased for not having any student representatives.
Now, it appears, the university has relented.
"We have taken note of your request for significant student representation on the committee. Therefore, in addition to a representative from the NUS Students’ Union, we have welcomed a junior common room committee member and a graduate fellow (a graduate student) to sit on the committee," the committee chairperson Kay Kuok was reported to have said to CNA.
Among the terms of reference which has been set out by the committee includes reviewing the higher institutes' disciplinary process and steps to support victims of sexual harassment cases coupled with proper handling of offenders.
Focus will also be given on security and education on "consent and respect".
"We have committed ourselves to a transparent and consultative process that will involve engagement with the NUS community on your concerns on sexual misconduct on our campuses and the committee’s proposed recommendations," Kuok says.
Full recommendations are slated to be ready by June.
Meanwhile, Monica has urged netizens to stop cyber-bullying the perpetrator who had taken a video of her while she was showering.
In an Instagram post, Monica explains that although the steps taken by NUS was a good step forward, she also defended her stance when it came to highlighting the issue through social media.
Here's keeping our fingers cross that the recommendations to be made in June would assist in making NUS better.
