Warwick University students stage sit-in over sexual abuse

Warwick University students stage sit-in over sexual abuse as protesters, organized as Protect Warwick Women, spend more than two weeks living in a tent on campus. They say there remains a “huge culture of fear” around sexual abuse and criticize the university for failing to support victims, three years after a “rape chat” scandal involving male students exchanging violent sexual comments. Protesters delivered demands including training on sexual violence and consent for staff and security, improved 24/7 safe-space signage, permanent bans for abusers, and increased funding for wellbeing services, along with access to immediate pastoral care rather than a security-led response. The university said it “welcomed” the ideas and that some improvements are already under way, but students vow to continue until they receive written confirmation. The article links the protest to broader pressure on UK universities following national conversations sparked by Sarah Everard’s death in March, and cites thousands of student testimonies across campuses.