Police rape unit called in for Abertay University ‘counter lecture’ as further protests revealed.

Students have also issued a list of three demands to the university following the ‘tortuous ordeal’.

A police rape investigation team has been invited to speak at Abertay University following a contentious presentation last month by a controversial men’s rights group.

Members of Dundee Women’s Aid and Dundee Women’s Rape and Sexual Abuse Centre are expected to attend the “counter lecture”. The Courier has also learnt that a nonviolent student-led demonstration against the lecture will take place later this week.

The moves come after senior lecturer Dr Stuart Waiton asked Justice for Innocent Men Scotland (Jims), which supports men wrongly accused of rape, to talk to fourth-year criminology students last month.

Meanwhile, university students are making three demands of the university after what they have described as the “tortuous ordeal”.

Students demands following ‘tortuous ordeal’

Taye Tharris, a first-year student who has openly criticised Dr Waiton and Jims, announced that a counter-lecture will be held at the university on Tuesday, with Dundee Women’s Aid, WRASAC, Police Scotland’s Divisional Rape Investigation Unit, and a police sexual offences liaison officer all invited and confirmed to attend.

Police Scotland and women’s groups have been reached for comment. On November 21, Taye organised a peaceful student-led demonstration outside the university library.

They also outlined three key asks of the university following the row.

Students make demands after lecture controversy

Taye stated that Jim’s speech was entirely foreseen and preventable.

“Jims were allowed to lecture their ideas as facts to university students, which is not simply exposure to unpopular views, but outright teaching of problematic viewpoints.

“Students have been restricted in their freedom for what they can and cannot express, they were not allowed to even question Jims.”

Outrage after lecture

Marsha Sturgeon of Justice for Innocent Men Scotland (Jims), which represents men who have been wrongfully accused of rape, delivered a lecture at the end of October that sparked uproar.

Marsha Sturgeon, Jims operations director, was invited to talk in front of Dr Stuart Waiton’s fourth-year criminology students about ‘rape shield’ regulations, which limit potential evidence and inquiry regarding a complainant’s sexual past and overall character.

Following the criticism, the university stated that the session was “not approved by the senior management team”.

It stated that the group’s opinions “do not reflect those of Abertay University”.

It also resulted in graffiti, with the Abertay instructor labelled a “rapist sympathiser” on the side of a Dundee school near the university’s campus.

Police confirmed that they were investigating the graffiti. The Courier also learnt that the university has begun a probe into why an unapproved speaking session with Ms Sturgeon occurred.

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