Image credits: Ellie Smith
TRIGGER WARNING: RAPE AND SEXUAL ASSAULT
Spiking at University is all too common, as a survey by the Alcohol Education Trust found that 1 in 10 students have been a victim of spiking during their studies. An even more horrifying report found that some victims subsequently reported being raped, sexually assaulted and having their belongings stolen after being spiked.
The University of Warwick is not exempt from these stories. But how can we be surprised that at the fact that the University who is infamous for its ‘rape chat’, which saw hundreds of messages uncovered from a group-chat that threatened rape and other forms of violence to female students, has also seen reports of spiking?
This is an issue that I am very passionate about, as while everyone is at risk of spiking, women make up 74% of spiking victims, showing that this issue is gendered and is part of a wider pattern of violence and control over women. Similarly, as a former member of the Operations Forum in the SU, I felt that conversations surrounding spiking were often ignored or even shut down, something that became increasingly frustrating throughout the year.
Research conducted by LEFT Magazine has found that spiking is a problem at the University of Warwick. Through a survey posted on social media, we collected stories from people who have been spiked both off-campus and in clubs such as Kasbah, Smack, and Neon, as well as in POP, Skool Dayz, and even the Pool Room in the SU.
Respondents shared disturbing stories such as:
‘[In POP!] I got to talking with someone in the queue … and he bought me a drink at the bar. I don’t think I realised anything weird at the time but eventually my friends found me so wasted and got me home safe. I have no memory of the night and I felt something worse than hungover. Now I know that person has done similar things to people I know.’
‘I was spiked in The Copper Rooms in Skool Dayz via needle. All I remember is not being able to move or speak… I arranged a meeting with SU staff to look through security footage and was …spoken down to, told ‘spiking is a very rare thing’ and was asked ‘are you sure you were spiked?’ countless times. I left feeling incredibly angry at the way this university treats the real livelihoods of its women…and there was never further action taken.’
‘I was running a circle in the Atrium…so my drinks were left unattended for most of the night. I only drank 3 pints and a VK when POP! began. About an hour or so into POP!… I felt really out of it, and I don’t remember much of the night other than being sat on the floor of the smoking area crying because I didn’t know what was going on. A friend walked me back to my accommodation, where I ended up being sick. It wasn’t until the day after that my friends made me realise I had been spiked.’
Similar stories were reported at off-campus events, showing that this issue isn’t confined to University spaces:
‘I accepted a Jägerbomb from a girl [in Kasbah] … and I believe that’s what spiked me. I don’t remember the rest of the night despite only having two drinks…Friends told me that as soon as I began to seem visibly intoxicated, a few men started to surround me.’
‘I was spiked in Smack… the whole experience was really scary and had it not been for my friends that night it’s a horrible thought… I still can’t remember from around midnight to 4/5am as I had no recollection at all from getting back to campus… It was scary and [my friends] knew it was really out of character for me.’
These stories reveal a deeply troubling pattern that the University and the SU can’t dismiss. University outlets such as The Boar have been highlighting spiking at Warwick for years, yet little has changed. Communication about the issue from the SU has been inadequate, and students continue to be at risk. While they have no control of what happens off-campus, the threat of being spiked at Warwick events is real and needs to be confronted head-on.
The SU has been failing to adequately protect students at on-campus events and must take stronger action to ensure everyone’s safety at POP!, Skool Dayz and other on-campus events. If they are serious about student welfare, measures should be put in place to minimise the threat of spiking, such as training staff to recognise the signs of spiking versus intoxication, providing drink covers, and even introducing basic bag and pocket checks on entry to The Copper Rooms.
LEFT Magazine welcomes recent steps being taken by the SU to both acknowledge and take action against spiking, and hopes that they will continue to take this issue seriously to protect everyone. Until suitable action is taken, students will continue to face the same dangers at events such as POP! and Skool Dayz, and inaction from the SU will remain part of the problem.
