NAFA Graduate Accuses Former Staff for Sexual Misconduct on Campus

In recent years, an increasing number of sexual misconduct cases on school campuses have been reported.

It may seem like students and lecturers have suddenly all turned into creeps, but this was likely happening for a long time. 

The only difference now is that victims have been given the confidence to report their perpetrators.

This time, though, it isn’t in NUS.

NAFA Graduate Accuses Former Staff of Sexual Misconduct on Campus

A graduate at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (Nafa) has accused a former employee of the academy of sexual harassment.

On Wednesday and Thursday (25 March), Nafa sent out an e-mail to students, staff, and alumni, mentioning that a graduate had spoken out about the incident, which allegedly occurred on campus in April last year.

While the academy has not given any details of the incident, it said it has cooperated fully with the authorities to provide assistance.

They later stated their stance on such matters in a Facebook post on the same day.

“We would like to reiterate and emphasise that NAFA takes a zero-tolerance stance on all forms of sexual misconduct. We are aware of this incident and have cooperated fully with the relevant authorities to provide assistance”, it wrote.

“More importantly, we care about the individual’s well-being and have reached out to her and offered her support”.

The institution also offered its support to any other students who were in need of such care.

“We would like to assure you that all complaints, whether from alumni, staff or students, will be treated with utmost seriousness, respect, and confidentiality”.

“We expect all NAFA staff and students to treat others with dignity, consideration and respect, and we take a strong stand against all forms of inappropriate behaviour”, it said.

Two University Faculty Members Sacked in Last 6 Months

In the last 6 months alone, two university faculty members were sacked after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced.

The first was Dr Jeremy Fernando, a former Tembusu College fellow at NUS. Mr Fernando was sacked on 7 Oct after two students made allegations of sexual misconduct against him.

Then, on 1 Dec, Professor Theodore G. Hopf, the provost chair professor of the department of political science in the NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, was dismissed for sexual misconduct with a student.

At the time, many students were displeased with the university’s handling of the case as they felt the school could have been more transparent.

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