Published: October 19, 2020
Earlier today, Students for a Safer NUS have reached out to staff in Tembusu College and NUS Administration to seek clarification with regards to the recent dismissal of Jeremy Fernando, after allegations of sexual violence. The first statement from any staff representative was delivered about two weeks after his dismissal. It was sparse on providing information on follow-up measures, and released only after individuals on social media had already made light of this incident. While we fully understand the importance of confidentiality in such cases to protect survivors’ identities, it is not the same as silence on the subject. Accountability and support are needed for students to feel safe. In our correspondence, we have requested the following:
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1. A statement from the College/University to clarify what has happened, for the safety of students.
Due to the shaken sense of collective trust in the college community, transparency from the College/University is crucial. This is especially important as the allegations are of violence committed by a member of staff. Communicating with and protecting survivors must be central to this response. Action from the institution, or lack thereof, signals to students how accountable the institution is willing to be in matters of student safety. We are disappointed to see that details of the assault were only revealed to those outside Tembusu College by the victims themselves in a Straits Times article dated 18 October 2020. The College should have been more prompt in informing the student body, both within and outside the College, instead of letting students find out through the media. Moving forward, we hope to see more proactive measures taken by the Administration in order to keep students and the community updated on this case.
2. Clarification on NUS Staff Code of Conduct.
We have previously requested clarifications on this matter as this information is not available to students, even though the NUS Student Code of Conduct is publicly available. We would like information regarding this policy to be made readily available and accessible to students.
3. Consistent follow-up on supporting survivors.
Such follow-up measures should be centered towards survivors and others affected by such instances of sexual violence. This includes, but is not limited to, being transparent with survivors throughout the whole reporting process, accountability for said reporting processes and understanding what survivors want to be done following investigation. Information about existing and future follow-up measures by the University should also be relayed to the student body.
4. Follow-up correspondence with SafeNUS & the student body on building better safety measures.
This case, among others, indicates that the measures resulting from the town hall in April 2019 and following consultations are inadequate. There needs to be further student involvement in the decision-making process for safety measures on campus, and such input and consultations from students should be followed through by the Administration.
5. To move towards a response to sexual violence as not merely an issue of misconduct, but in addressing that hurt directly, and in giving survivors the space for healing.
Responses to this case by the administration and general public have been rule-focused and penalty-focused thus far, which are only short-term measures to deep-rooted societal and structural issues surrounding sexual violence. They are being seen as breaches of codes of conduct, instead of breaches of individual and community safety and dignity. There needs to be an effort towards transformative forms of justice and community accountability processes.
We call upon all NUS students to demand for transparency and accountability from the University. If you are part of a student organisation or group that would like to endorse this statement and work together for a safer campus, please contact us to co-sign this statement.
Current Signatories: ✓ Students for a Safer NUS (19 Oct) ✓ LKYSPP Master in Public Policy, Class of 2020/2022 (19 Oct) ✓ Students Taking Action for NUS to Divest (19 Oct) ✓ USP Gender Collective (19 Oct) ✓ QueerNUS (19 Oct) ✓ tFreedom (19 Oct) ✓ Tembusu Debates (19 Oct) ✓ Yale-NUS Student Government (19 Oct) ✓ The G Spot (19 Oct) ✓ Tembusu Wildlife Association (20 Oct) ✓ NUS Vision of Equality for Greener Earth (20 Oct) ✓ Love, Tembusu (20 Oct) ✓ Community for Advocacy & Political Education (20 Oct) ✓ Fossil Free Yale-NUS (21 Oct) ✓ Love, USP (21 Oct) ✓ LKYSPP Master in Public Policy, Class of 2019/2021 (22 Oct) ✓ Yale-NUS Data Science Society (22 Oct) ✓ Bridging Gender and Policy (GAP) @ LKYSPP (22 Oct) ✓ NUS Vision of Equality for Greener Earth (20 Oct) ✓ Love, Tembusu (20 Oct) ✓ Community for Advocacy & Political Education (20 Oct) ✓ Fossil Free Yale-NUS (21 Oct) ✓ Love, USP (21 Oct)