I’ve been working with a number of UK uni depts over the last couple of years. Working in roles from advising on gender equality & Athena SWAN, acting as an advocate for individual students, advising on fieldwork specifically. & there’s one thing that never fails to confuse me.

Not always, but often, there’s a lack of willingness to be proactive.

Usually a student, or a number of students, will raise a particular issue. This can be anything: bullying, racism, sexual harassment, etc.

Response: “we are very sorry, but this is a one-off”

Response: “our department is usually very inclusive and welcoming - we are one big family!”

They will never even consider it may be systemic (even when current research shows that it is). It is always treated as a Very Unusual Bad Thing that happened just once.

Even if we go on good faith and assume this to be true - that what happened to this student(s) was a horrible anomaly - surely it’s just safer to assume it isn’t? To invest in research-informed training, to employ 3rd parties to conduct independent investigations, etc.

If one person in your organisation gets a very infection disease, you should assume there’s a very real possibility that a large proportion of your employees may have it, and take action to mitigate that risk. It’s just basic damage control.

Why not the same with bad behaviour?

If nothing else, it signals to the rest of your department that you won’t stand for bad/unprofessional/toxic behaviour. Even if the report is an “one-off”. And it makes the vulnerable members of your department feel safer.

And like I said, this isn’t always the case. I have worked with some amazingly proactive departments who sought me out, senior members of depts who took time to meet w/ me, implement my suggestions, read & use the research I sent them. But IME that seems to be the exception.