Sexual harassment scandals are discussed at the technical school and university in Valmiera / Article

Many students approached by educational institutions in Valmiera admit that they were shocked when they heard about the sexual harassment scandals in Riga.

“The reactions were definitely shocking, it’s definitely not what we expect when we look at such a modern higher education environment,” admitted Kristīne Jankava, chairwoman of Vidzeme University Students’ Association (ViASA).

Eriks Ralfs Blauberg, head of the social direction of Vidzeme University’s student union, said that “surveys have not been conducted, but our students trust the ViASA board very much, therefore they safely come to the student self-government and inform about it and also write an e-mail if something has happened”.

Both the technical school and the university indicated that there were no reports of violations, however, negotiations took place after the events in Riga.

“We have created a whistle-blowing system, all the procedures and forms are well developed. They are available to both employees and students – the code of ethics, the rules of the internal procedure,” said Vidzeme University Rector Agnese Dāvidsone.

On the other hand, at the Valmiera Technical School, the code of ethics was re-evaluated, as well as the situation and actions were discussed with teachers and other employees, encouraging the colleagues themselves to direct the attention of young people to the evaluation of risky situations.

“We are evaluating the possibility of including separate norms that directly affect the principles of ethics and morality. It is currently being evaluated, but we will probably also update the internal regulatory act in order to direct the situation to the recognition and prevention of similar situations,” said the director of the Valmiera Technical School, Vineta Melngārša.

Representatives of educational institutions understand that if alarm calls are received from students, the action must be quick and clear.

“Perhaps, this would immediately be a question of the ethics commission, which would be evaluated. If necessary, external institutions would also be involved, turning to institutions protecting rights. This is a theoretical algorithm that has not had to be applied so far,” said Vineta Melngārsa.

The rector of Vidzeme University Agnese Dāvidsone said: “We would definitely activate all the systems we have created at the university. I have promised that we will definitely not start a witch hunt in any of these cases, the circumstances of the case must always be clarified, there must be a basis on which we accept decisions”.

In a conversation with LTV, students admitted that they feel safe in their educational institutions, but also know what to do if they notice risky situations.

CONTEXT:

Since the “Kultūršoks” program of the Latvian Television came to the disposal of seven JVLMA students’ testimonies about the sexual harassment of individual lecturers, so far one lecturer has been disciplinary, another lecturer has been suspended without the possibility to communicate with the students.

The Academy has turned to the State Police in connection with the information broadcast in the program, and the Ministry of Culture has also invited Academy students who have suffered from sexual harassment by lecturers to submit whistleblower applications.

On the other hand, the Minister of Justice Inese Lībiņa-Egnere (“Jaunā Vienotība”), after this scandal, proposed criminal liability for sexual harassment, thus allowing the victims of violence to receive the necessary support and protection.