#MeToo hits universities

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Mon, May 28, 2018 | 19:02

Politics

#MeToo hits universities

Posted : 2018-04-09 17:02

Updated : 2018-04-09 21:12

Ehwa Women's University Campus Provided by Ehwa hompage

By Kim Hyun-bin

In recent months the #MeToo movement has stirred the nation and university campuses around the country.

#MeToo victims were predominately women, but a male student at Pohang University of Science and Technology (Postech) revealed that he was also victimized by a senior female student.

His experience was revealed a day after a female professor at Postech exposed her sexual harassment experience on the school's internet message board.

"I was checking the school's internet message board about the female professor's #MeToo incident and many commented 'with you' in support of the professor, but when I was scrolling down I found a sickening name, which led me to write this message," said the male #MeToo victim at Postech.

"After our finals last year, my friends and I gathered for a drink and was about to head home when a senior female student joined. Later she took me to a deserted area and tried to French kiss me. I pushed her away and ran off to a crowded place," he wrote.

"She came back when I was around my friends and sat next to me and lay down on my friends lap, but at the same time put her hand inside my shirt and rubbed my back," he added. "Every time I encountered her on campus I felt my hands and legs shiver and wanted to report the incident, but I didn't."

Postech is also currently looking into the female professor's case where she was sexually harassed by a high ranking government official at a professors' get together.

"We are currently looking to collect the facts on the two #MeToo cases," said an official from Postech.

Ewha Womans University was also hit with several sexual harassment cases involving professors and students.

"Recently our Art and Music Department were hit with #MeToo incidents. We are thoroughly investigating the cases," said the university in a statement. "We are well aware of the severity of the situation and if the suspicions come out to be true we will take strong measures."

The university is scheduled to open the first sexual harassment committee on Friday and plans to appoint two student council members to its board.

The committee deals with sexual harassment and assault on campus and consists of at least six members.
"We have separated the professors from the students soon after the incident surfaced and excluded them from all classes and activities," said an official from Ewha Womans University.

A music professor accused of sexual harassment submitted his resignation Monday, but the institution plans to put it on hold until the results of the investigation are revealed.

hyunbin@ktimes.com