College ignoring sexual harassment

[rain-on-mi.cha]

this is an issue that has been making me feel very angry and upset recently and I really feel that I need some advice or confirmation that I really do have reason to believe that what has happened is very wrong...

I started college in October last year, I'm doing a Level Up course which helps students who weren't able to get GCSE grades work their way towards qualifications...I wasn't able to get GCSEs because I was very bullied at school and left before the exams took place..it took alot for me to put myself back into a classroom situation, I was so nervous I nearly turned round again and left rather than go in on my first day. But I did it and in nearly all ways I have been enjoying it so much, I have made some lovely friends in my class who have also been through alot in the past and can understand..and my education is finally moving forwards..but theres been a problem. A boy in my class has been severally bullying and sexually harassing me and my female friend in the class. He has threatened to rape us, shown us several explicit photos of himself and other girls on his mobile phone, photos of anal and oral sex and also of him having sex with a girl surronded by his friends taking photographs of them...he has touched my friend inappropriately, these are some of the examples of things he has said (I'm sorry about the explicit content)..

Are you a virgin, haven't you been f**ked yet? I'll do it for you.
Soon I will be adding you to my collection. *While showing sex photos*
Do you like g*lden sh*wers? Bet you f*cking do.
I was behind you watching your a*se move all the way up the high street.

And other comments that are far to disgusting to repeat. He has sat directly oppisite to me during a lesson and began touching and stroking himself and liking his lips. He also bullies several members in the class referring to their weight, race and appearence. I told my head of course tutor 3 times about this and he failed to do anything. I also told my Teamwork teacher twice, she did nothing. I eventually spoke to my course tutor again after almost 4 months of this going on and he contacted our head of faculty. She made notes on what me and my friend told her was happening. Her decision to "appropriately" deal with the situation was to speak to this boy for around 10 minutes and then allow him back into the classroom, unpunished, no consequences, no investigations and no support offered to me and my friend. He then threatened my friend with physical violence as he decided she had spoken to the teacher about him. It took for me to speak to a very senior member of staff at the college who 30 minutes after I spoke to him suspended the boy and demanded an investigation begin straight away. My teachers have been interviewing members of my class. I am going to be interviewed this week. All of my teachers keep referring to the boys "right to an education" and when I ask if he will be returning they do not answer, they just keep saying he has rights. I have been very emotionally affected by the sexual harasment and have been having nightmares and states of extreme aniexty. My teacher has said to me that I was disrupting the class by being upset because one lesson I was crying, she said I was wrong to be upset and childish and should realise not to bring my problems into the classroom. Am I right to feel extremely dissapointed in the staff working as part of my course? If the senior management felt it was the right thing to suspend the boy instantly, why did the staff I informed more than 6 times about what was happening feel it was appropriate to speak to him briefly and then allow him straight back into the classroom where he went on to threaten my friend. I feel they should be fired for their lack of protective and professional approach when dealing with this matter, frankly they couldn't care less. I need to present questions for my interview this week to ask the teachers why this was handled so badly..does anyone have any suggestions to the kind of questions I should ask and the actions I can take in making sure the boy does not return and that the teachers involved are punished, if not fired, for breaking the law and not doing their job ?

Thank you so much in advance, I'm sorry its very long.

[TheLittleNinja]

Hey There & Welcome to TeenHelp.

I'm very very sorry to hear of your past and what is now happening as you are starting to move forward.

I can confirm that this

He has threatened to rape us, shown us several explicit photos of himself and other girls on his mobile phone, photos of anal and oral sex and also of him having sex with a girl surronded by his friends taking photographs of them...he has touched my friend inappropriately

is extremely wrong and something should definitely be done about it.

I'm also appalled at this

I told my head of course tutor 3 times about this and he failed to do anything. I also told my Teamwork teacher twice, she did nothing. I eventually spoke to my course tutor again after almost 4 months of this going on and he contacted our head of faculty. She made notes on what me and my friend told her was happening. Her decision to "appropriately" deal with the situation was to speak to this boy for around 10 minutes and then allow him back into the classroom, unpunished, no consequences, no investigations and no support offered to me and my friend.

I feel that you need to write all of these points down for your interview next week, and then pose questions from these points.

Questions like you have already stated in your post here such as;

- What are you - as senior management - going to do about the staff who did not take immediate action when I told them of my incident?

- I understand the boy involved has rights to an education but surly I have rights to protection, and I feel that it was protection I did not receive - what can I ask are you going to do that will ensure my and other students protection in the future?

Those sort of questions. Make sure you are polite and professional :]
I'm really sorry to hear what happened, and I hope this helps :]
Claire x

[Casey.]

Hey there, and welcome to TeenHelp.

I am really sorry that this happened to you and your friend. Sexual harassment is no joke, and it does hurt. You have every right to be upset about it, and about the ways that it was handled.

If you feel like your teachers are being insensitive, maybe talk to the senior instructor? Tell them that you are just upset, and that you have a right to an education too.

When you pose your questions, I'd use the ones Claire has said, but would also change one of them, just a bit.
-I understand the boy involved has rights to an education but surly also have the rights not only to an education, but to be protected from this kind of behaviour in the class room?

If you need anything, feel free to pm me.

[TheLittleNinja]

Hi Again, Sorry If this post is a little late - but I literally only just learnt of this information...

I was speaking to my parents about an incident that occurred at a college near me, where a girl was bullying another girl. Things turned physical and it turns out the bully was told to leave the college.

It turns out that as soon as you reach 16 (this is in the UK) that any such offence is likely to get you suspended from college. Considering you have been threatened with sexual assault and rape - then I feel that it should be likely for the guy that has been threatening you to be suspended. Maybe you should do some research into the laws of where ever you are and see if this is possible?

[Fairy Poppins]

Bottom line is that if your college keeps ignoring this, you should go to the police.

[honeycake]

I know how you feel i went through exactly the same thing colleges act like nothing's wrong and life goes on, but i basically had my friends witness it then when i told my tutor they all turned against me saying i was lying only one friend stood by me so they weren't my friends at all, but it did stop eventually yeh i think you should go to the police if it carries on

[Guile]

I recommend you bring a lawsuit against him for harassment, stalking, sexual harassment, sexual battery, and (possibly) assault. I can not say for sure, by law I am not allowed to, but I assume you could have a very good case against this man. Contact your attorney about it so you can recover the psychological and emotional damages.