At the ETH Zurich, following several cases of discrimination, mobbing and sexual assault, scientific and student associations gathered on Friday in front of the school. These different organizations believe that the management of the establishment must take more measures against abuse. A petition has been filed.
On October 20, the organizations Women in Natural Sciences, 500 Women Scientists Zürich and Speak Up! in Academia launched a petition, called “We are shocked”, as well as a manifesto. With 1,300 signatures, the petition denounces the lack of action by the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich in the face of cases of mobbing, sexual harassment or discrimination reported to it.
At the origin of this event, an article from Daily Gazetterepublished in The federal governmentwhich reported complaints from eight people against an internationally renowned professor. The complainants allegedly turned to management on several occasions, underlines Der Bund. But according to the petition, the institution’s internal system was not enough.
More measures required
This petition was also a call to come and participate in a rally early Friday evening at the school’s Polyterrace. During this event, the petition was handed over to two management representatives under the gaze and applause of several dozen people.
As a female scientist, this directly concerns me, as such actions destroy careers and lives
Among the demands, the organizations are asking for a serious anonymous and external reporting tool, a legal fund for victims’ legal costs and greater transparency on the number of complaints filed. Valentina Gasser from the Speak Up! organizing committee. in Academia, denounces a climate in which problematic behavior “is accepted” and where “no one dares to say anything”, leaving the door open to “sexual advances and racist behavior.
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Reaction from the ETHZ
Management disputed these accusations. According to Julia Dannath, vice-president of personal development and leadership, the frustration is understandable because “each case is one too many.” But she emphasizes that the school “has greatly improved and changed its processes”. She recalled what she has already put in place in recent years, in particular a service for reporting cases of sexual harassment, help desks, mediators as well as an anonymous reporting form.
The polytechnic also reacted by affirming that the objectives written on the demonstrators’ petition are shared by management. In a written position statement, the ETH Zurich clarified that it would examine in detail all demands and proposals that could improve the handling of cases of abuse.
>> Explanations in the Forum show:
Radio subject: Camille Degott
Web writing: itg
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