“The Faculty hates women”

A UK University has been using gagging orders to silence victims of sexual harassment at Employment Tribunals, as noted in The Times and discussed here.

In 2021, Al Jazeera carried out a landmark investigation into sexual harassment at the University of Oxford. This forms parts 1 and 2 of their ‘Degrees of Abuse‘ series available here.

(Incidentally, why was it left to Qatar-based Al Jazeera to do this? Where are the UK journalists and broadcasters? Oh, of course .. they want their sons and daughters to go to Oxbridge or they want to become Masters of Colleges.)

The investigation identified two Oxford professors (Andy Orchard and Peter Thompson) accused of sexist behaviour, drunkenness and sexual harassment. Andy Orchard is alleged to have abused power over younger researchers and students, with a “personal reputation … as an alcoholic and a sexual predator”, according to Cherwell.  Peter Thompson has been accused of drunkenness, making sexist comments and behaving inappropriately with students, especially in social settings. Concerns about his behaviour had been raised as early as 2017 by students, who questioned his fitness to teach. In 2020, two students and five staff members lodged further complaints. According to Cherwell, Oxford ultimately upheld allegations of excessive alcohol consumption and sexual harassment.

Al Jazeera‘s investigation also drew attention to the persistent weaknesses of UK university grievance systems, exposing the dissonance between the confident public assurances institutions make and the reality experienced by those who report misconduct.

‘The Faculty’s Statement of Values claims one of the goals of this department is “to create an environment in which everyone – at every academic level from undergraduate to professor, and among professional and support staff, regardless of background and identity – can fulfil their potential.” A hostile environment plagued by years of inappropriate behaviour and sexist comments cannot be one in which people fulfil their potential. The “supporting principles” listed on the same page (like the aim to “eradicate inequalities,” ensuring “events are welcoming and inclusive,” and recognizing that “there are no excuses for treating any colleague or student with a lack of respect”) are meaningless. [Student at Oxford]

The evidential threshold in University internal disciplinary systems is exceptionally high, and Al Jazeera reported that many complainants felt let down or even re-traumatised by the process. One PhD student, anonymised as Harriet, said she was sexually assaulted and lodged a formal complaint with Balliol, only to be told the college would take no further action because she declined to go to the police. Another student, Millie, described the procedure as opaque and distressing, and said she would never subject herself to it again.

In the wake of the Al Jazeera investigation, Oxford University should have acted swiftly to strengthen student safeguarding and overhaul its handling of sexual harassment allegations, particularly in cases involving known repeat offenders. They did not.

From my experience, I can only conclude that the History Faculty hates women. On the basis of my experience and that of a number of my peers, it also has demonstrated a shocking contempt for its students, their worth and welfare and has been much more concerned with maintaining the status quo and the status of its lecturers over the welfare of its students. I have experienced first-hand this culture of silence and the heinous tactics the faculty has been ready to stoop to ensure it is maintained at all costs. It is my experience that the History faculty’s statement of values has more to do with fiction that reality. It is also my experience that the History Faculty is not a safe place for students with concerns or complaints quickly dismissed, covered up and misconduct condoned by the faculty (or more precisely, the core group which effectively controls the faculty). I note that in my case I was bullied, degraded, harassed, victimized, gravely mistreated, and smeared when daring to raise concerns about misconduct in the faculty under the chairmanship of the very same individual – and core group of individuals- who have maintained Peter Thompson in place while being fully aware of his behaviour.” [History Student at Oxford]

Problems are continuing.

In June 2024, Cherwell reported that a departmental investigation had upheld harassment allegations against an unnamed professor — and former Pro-Vice-Chancellor — at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. The complaints described inappropriate sexual remarks, unwanted advances and unsolicited kisses, occurring both in laboratories and at social events. Yet the outcome was strikingly lenient: the professor received only a verbal warning and remained in post, continuing to teach.

In August 2025, Oxford’s Saïd Business School saw its dean, Professor Soumitra Dutta, resign following sexual harassment findings reported by Bloomberg  and discussed here. His appointment had already raised questions, given that he had abruptly quit his Deanship at Cornell’s business college in 2018 amid similar concerns.

The 21 Group has since been contacted by additional students and staff naming Oxford professors facing allegations of the most serious kind, including sexual assault and rape. We are aware of several ongoing grievance procedures and Employment Tribunal cases. Why is this still happening?

I complained about my experience as a postgraduate student in the Faculty. Prof [REDACTED]’s main response was to tell me about the sex lives of lecturers in the faculty. Fascinating as these stories were, they exemplify the attitude that prevails regarding staff misconduct against students: one of complacency, apathy, disinterest, lightness, even slight amusement. Duty of care to students does not exist. [Student at Oxford]

Oxford’s reputation on sexual harassment stinks out the entire HE sector