South African students at Rhodes University in Grahamstown on Tuesday disrupted lectures and took to the school premises to call on management to revisit policies they feel fail to protect rape victims.
After a “reference list” was released making public the names of alleged rapists at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, students have continued to protest against a system they believe is guilty of protecting rapists. “For now, our concerns are the sexual assault policy which has been under review for over a year. The policy is problematic as it excludes victims who have been forced to penetrate their perpetrators in its definition of rape. It also puts the onus on the victim to prove their perpetrator intended to rape them,” says Sian Ferguson, a student organiser in #Chapter212 and current chair of the Gender Action Project at Rhodes University.
The #RUReferenceList was published on Sunday and carries the names of alleged rapists at the university. The protesters are now locked in a stand-off with police.
Students say they are determined to stay despite police warning because they are making an important stand.
THIS IS SO IMPORTANT #RUReferenceList pic.twitter.com/1fWd85tr2h
— Thulz (@Itz_Thulz) April 19, 2016
Amandla!! RT @Pantsula_: Rhodes students are now particiapting in #nakedprotest because of the #RUReferenceList pic.twitter.com/FYUdhUk0eN
— Bad guy (@IamLungile_) April 19, 2016
Students being addressed as two of the accused sit in the centre of the crowd. #RUReferenceListpic.twitter.com/2gO7jEKDCU
— Queen of Kings (@Olo_Mongale) April 17, 2016