The apology comes after the university conducted an investigation into allegations of sexism and racism on campus, first reported by the Guardian last year. “I want to apologize to anyone who has suffered from a culture of bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct at the Bartlett School of Architecture,” said Michael Spence, president and professor at UCL, in response to the findings of the internal investigation. The research, which began in October 2021, was completed in mid-April with findings detailed in an 119-page report by Howlett Brown, an information company that specializes in employee research, and was appointed by the university as an impartial researcher. In the report, Howlett Brown said he had learned some “uncomfortable truths and several ‘open secrets’ about the BSA,” citing the power, protectionism, “boy club” culture that allowed for lack of accountability and fear of speaking out. . woven into the BSA fabric for a long time “. The survey included 49 individual interviews, focus groups, written submissions and a survey of more than 300 respondents. A dossier reported to the Guardian in 2021, citing the final report, included testimonies from 21 people who claimed there were “systemic” problems with Bartlett. The testimonies, compiled by a female student who experienced sexism while studying at the institution in 2000, allegedly made inappropriate comments about appearance and race, and reported that the female students sometimes cried. “Their testimonies reveal an unforgivable and destructive background of intimidation and other unacceptable behavior that is in stark contrast to the values on which the UCL was founded,” Spence said. “We must, and certainly will, deal with this quickly and vigorously.” The report said that the serious allegations “in the last three decades” concerned a number of staff members who allegedly made sexist comments and verbally assaulted female students, in addition to allegedly half-hearted, discriminatory and anti-Semitic behavior. One of the participants said that a teacher told them “you should be grateful for what your family emigrated”. Another alumni said “the environment was very toxic, especially for women, working people and people of color.” A student who said she was raped by a fellow student did not share it with staff as she was not sure “there was a network”. Other staff members reportedly touched students inappropriately, partying with students while taking drugs, and dating students during their stay at school. The report, which said problems began to emerge in the early 1990s, also reported a “varying degree of complacency” among other staff members, described as complicit in their inaction and exacerbated by a lack of oversight, accountability or action. The report urged the university to further investigate allegations about BSA staff, recommended a change in the structure of teacher recruitment, staff training and the provision of long-term counseling and support options. Citing an “inherent power imbalance”, the report states that the university’s personal relations policy, which generally bans relationships with people under the age of 18, does not protect students from sexual harassment and misconduct. “This report contains shocking testimonies and highlights a number of unforgivable incidents,” said Christoph Lindner, dean of the Bartlett School of Structured Environment, where the Bartlett School is located. Following the publication of the report, some employees of the School of Architecture were removed from student and administrative duties with “immediate effect”, according to the university, while further investigations were carried out. “It’s time to have some difficult discussions about how to disrupt existing privilege and power structures, creating space and opportunities for those who have been marginalized in the past,” Lindner said.
