Ugly scene during student meeting at Aussie university sparks investigation: 'Deplorable'

The footage emerged just days after 27 of Sydney University students were either expelled or suspended over a 'serious humiliation' incident.

Male students at Sydney University have been filmed publicly tearing up a damning report into sexual abuse at the college. Source: Instagram/USyd Women’s Collective
Male students at Sydney University have been filmed publicly tearing up a damning report into sexual abuse at the college. Source: Instagram/USyd Women’s Collective

A group of male students at the University of Sydney have drawn heavy criticism after they were filmed publicly tearing up a report into rape, harassment and hazing at residential colleges on campus — merely days after 27 of their peers were either expelled or suspended over a "serious humiliation" incident.

Footage shared on social media this week shows two young men at Wednesday night's Student Representative Council (SRC) meeting tearing up from The Red Zone report, while a third is seen tossing it to the ground. The report, produced by national group End Rape on Campus Australia, unveiled deeply troubling behaviour across Sydney University's colleges.

The comprehensive document focused on sexual violence and harassment, particularly analysing the heightened risk period known as the "Red Zone" — the first few weeks of the academic year when new students are at a higher risk of sexual assault and harassment.

In the document, shocking instances of abuse were revealed, including examples of male students ejaculating into female students' beauty products and an annual event in which students were encouraged to post graphic details about one another online.

Sydney University said it has launched an urgent investigation into the behaviour, which took place at Wednesday night's SRC meeting. Source: Instagram/USyd Women’s Collective
Sydney University said it has launched an urgent investigation into the behaviour, which took place at Wednesday night's SRC meeting. Source: Instagram/USyd Women’s Collective

At Wednesday's SRC meeting, the report was handed down to attendees by the USyd Women’s Collective, a feminist activist group, calling for action. It was intended to highlight the increasing rate of hazing, bullying and sexual violence taking place on college grounds, which councillor Ellie Robertson said came as a result of the ingrained "elitist culture" at the institution.

In the footage, Robertson is heard saying "we have seen in the past week almost 10 per cent of students in St Paul's College have either been suspended or excluded … in a horrific incident of bullying", before the male students interrupt to performatively tear up the report.

Video shows the young men laughing and smiling while they rip the paper to pieces, as other men watch on and smirk. Outgoing SRC President Harrison Brennan blasted those responsible for the what he described as disturbing conduct.

"I think [it] was pretty deplorable behaviour ... it was profound and shocking that they were making a big spectacle of it," Brennan told the ABC. According to the outlet, the three students responsible are affiliated with the Liberal Party.

University Deputy Vice-Chancellor Joanne Wright echoed Brennan's sentiment, saying she was "deeply disappointed" by the vision and expects "higher standards from our students".

She said the university has launched an "immediate inquiry" into the incident and that "any behaviour that mocks victim survivors or ignores the impact of trauma resulting from sexual misconduct is absolutely unacceptable".

The Red Zone report contained the photos and real names of rape victims who went on the record, in addition to family members of students who died after being hazed. It documented almost 100 years of hazing and rape at the college, as well as three deaths — including a murder — at the university.

Earlier this week more than two dozen students were penalised after news broke of a student being subjected to a “degrading ritual” at St Paul’s College, in which a student was gagged with a sex toy and verbally abused.

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