The wellbeing and safety of our student community, and of students across Bath, is of the utmost importance to us. Following allegations circulating widely on social media last month that University of Bath students, reportedly members of the rugby club, intended to spike and sexually assault female students from Bath Spa University, we took immediate action. We enhanced security and support for students, liaised with the local police, and commissioned an external, independent investigation to establish the facts.
The investigation was particularly challenging given the anonymous nature of the initial social media posts. However, the independent investigator, Intersol, pursued all lines of inquiry available through direct interviews and by contacting leads via social media. Students at both universities were invited to come forward with relevant information, via student support services where appropriate. We are grateful to all those who helped with their investigation.
The independent investigation report found that no one spoken to by Intersol had witnessed firsthand any University of Bath Rugby Club member, or any other student, voicing an intention to spike and/or sexually assault any Bath Spa university student, nor any other student.
We live in a society where we expect fundamental principles of fairness. We want to be clear about the outcome of the independent investigation on the basis of the evidence found and conclusions drawn. The report concludes that “the investigator cannot identify anyone who can identify the source of the hearsay rumours circulating on social media”. We understand the distress this situation has caused, both for students concerned about safety, and students in the club subject to these allegations. The rugby club committee fully co-operated with the investigation.
We are concerned by reports of verbal and online abuse directed at members of the Rugby Club in recent weeks. Abuse or harassment of any member of our community is unacceptable and must stop.
Looking ahead, the last few weeks have prompted an important wider conversation within our community about safety and inclusion. We believe we can do better in creating a supportive culture both within university sport and more broadly.
The University and Students’ Union (The SU) will therefore shortly launch a joint initiative focused on student culture, safety, inclusion and belonging. There has been a lot of positive work in recent years, including by sports clubs, and we want to build on this and identify areas for improvement.
We’d like to thank all those concerned at our University and at Bath Spa University for their patience, which allowed due process to be carried out.
We are proud of our sporting heritage and look forward to working alongside our student and staff community to pursue our ambition to be at the leading edge of positive sporting culture and impact for young people.