On the occasion of the Day Against Violence Against Women, November 25, Fatima Zenati set up a stand in the hall of the University of Paris-VIII-Vincennes-Saint-Denis. The institution’s gender equality officer has placed a ballot box to collect, if necessary, anonymous written testimonies. “A young girl approached me and could not speak. Only tears came to her eyes, relates Mme Zenati. Another told me that there would not be enough a ream of paper for her to tell me all that she suffered as sexism “ordinary”. “
At the forefront of gender studies, thanks to its specific research unit unique in France, and therefore on questions of discrimination and violence linked to sex, does Paris-VIII know how to sweep in front of its own door? For many students and teachers, university is still a long way off.
In recent years, business would have even been hushed up, advance Marion (the first name has been changed), one of the creators, in October, of “Paris8-Silence accomplice”, a Twitter account of “Denunciation of gender-based and sexual violence” intervened in the establishment or involving one of its members. In a few days, the team says they have compiled 22 direct or indirect testimonies of assault or harassment. “The fear of reprisals prevents students from speaking openly, so that at their request we have not disseminated their stories”, specifies Marion.
Only Hélène, 24 years old and just graduated in psychology, made public, on October 13, accusations of sexual assault involving a professor of psychology. After an appointment set for July 31 to discuss the classes she was to give at the start of the school year, she claims to have been forced to drink all evening, until ” black hole “ where she found herself, at 3:30 in the morning, in the arms of her former teacher, at her home.
Suspended teacher
Through his lawyer, the offending teacher “Categorically denies these accusations”. Me Marie Cornanguer denounces an attack on the presumption of innocence, a “False presentation of facts” and announces that“A complaint for a slanderous denunciation will be filed” against Hélène. For her part, the young woman filed a handrail on August 2 and filed a complaint on September 11 at the police station on 14e district for “sexual assault with administration of a substance to the victim without his knowledge, to alter his discernment or the control of his acts”. The investigation is underway, according to the student, who stresses on the other hand that she has no news from the university indicating that an administrative investigation was opened internally.
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