UWI calls emergency meeting after female student is attacked, injured on hall

Jovan Johnson, Gleaner Writer



KINGSTON, Jamaica:

The Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) has called an emergency meeting for tomorrow as it attempts to respond to the attack on a female student by a male student yesterday.



The incident comes as the university also grapples with claims of gender-based violence on the campus.



The Gleaner/Power 106 News Centre has obtained the copy of an email advising all hall managers of an 'urgent meeting' for 8:30 a.m. with deputy principal, Ishenkumba Kahwa.



The email informed of the "assault occasioning grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding on female student by a male student."



It said the incident involving the first-year student who resides on Taylor Hall occurred in the vicinity of Block C on Chancellor Hall at approximately 12 mid-night on Tuesday February 10.



The details of the attack were not included in the email advisory, however, it's alleged that stones were being thrown from a group of persons, including the accused male, in the direction of the female.



It's further reported that the female made enquries, which later resulted in an altercation leading to her suffering various injuries.



Last week, Campus registrar, Dr Camille Bell-Hutchinson disputed a study presented by former lecturer about a culture of gender-based violence on the university's campus.



Gender analyst and UN development specialist, Taitu Heron, reported that between 2010 and 2012, the offices of security services received 67 reports of incidents of violence against female students on campus, most of which took place on halls of residents.



However, the UWI registrar says while the university cannot say sexual violence does not take place on campus, the university has never had a report of sexual harassment on any of its halls of residence.



Dr Bell-Hutchinson said the university has established mechanisms to ensure that violence and particularly gender-based violence, is prevented.



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