My teachers do not believe me
Claire Joe, London, U.K.
I started my studies on a university course very happy in September. In October I started attending lectures on my course. I got unwanted attention from a male university lecturer who kept smiling at me. I thought it was my imagination but I used to get the train home from university, and he would be at the railway station watching me. Again, I thought I imagined it but he kept showing up at the station, and outside the station he shouted lured sexual comments at me.
I just felt very numb and the breaking point for me was at a mates birthday. I went to the student’s union bar for a night out. As I was ordering drinks, the university lecturer came over and started touching me in sexual places, and kissed me.
I felt like a rape victim.
I tried to confront him in a seminar class, but he intimidated me by saying that he got great joy from it.
I reported him to my personal tutor but was not believed by my teachers even though I have witnesses.
I have now changed my course and found out that the university lecturer who has abused me has just had a baby to my old business management teacher (she is one of the teachers who did not believe me). I feel sick every time I see both of them because they are still at my university, however I have had counselling to support me.
