SINGAPORE, May 8 (The Straits Times/ANN): There is a culture of drinking in university halls which can sometimes get out of hand and lead to inappropriate behaviour, but this is not widespread, say undergraduates here.
While most of the 21 undergraduates The Sunday Times spoke to on the issue of drinking on campus agreed there was a link between alcohol and sexual misconduct, they also said the root cause of such conduct likely lies elsewhere.
A second-year communications student from the National University of Singapore (NUS) said: "Sexual assaulters don't need to be drunk to carry out the act. If they have the intention, they will do it."
The 22-year-old added that she has heard of at least five instances of sexual misconduct in halls that did not involve alcohol.
The students were responding to NUS saying it will consider tougher enforcement against consumption of alcohol in campus housing, as seven out of eight cases of student sexual misconduct reported to the university in the second half of last year involved drinking.
This was announced in the university's latest report on sexual misconduct complaints involving students and staff.
The students ST spoke to said drinking on campus is often seen as a rite of passage.
A second-year communications student from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) said there is a strong drinking culture in halls.
"It is the first time in your life when you have control over what you can do in the late hours."
The 21-year-old added: "I also think there is a bandwagon culture where people think that drinking is the 'It' thing, a cool activity where you can meet new people.
"Even if they may not enjoy the drinks, they will still go to keep up with appearances and so that they don't feel Fomo (fear of missing out)."
The students also suggested that any attempt to place stronger curbs on drinking on campus would not work.
A 25-year-old final-year student at NTU's School of Humanities said: "Students are students and they'll find a way around the rules. Having regulations may act as a deterrent, but people generally have the mindset of 'you can do it, just don't get caught or if you do, be smart and wiggle your way out'."
NUS has not said what tougher enforcement on alcohol consumption would entail.
The students said that currently, drinking in the halls is tolerated, with the rules more related to issues such as noise and having visitors after a certain hour.
Some of the students had either encountered or heard of incidents of misconduct.
Recalling an incident of being groped by a drunk peer at a group drinking session, a male student said: "Your physiological and brain chemistry all change. Alcohol plays a part. I think she would never have done that if she wasn't drunk."
Another student said she had heard about an incident in which a male student took advantage of a drunk female friend whom he had convinced his female peers he was taking back safely to the hall after the group went out drinking.
The students also said some students behave in uncharacteristic ways when inebriated - for instance, getting handsy or engaging in sexual acts they would not consent to while sober.
But most said that such incidents of sexual misconduct were not common.
The NTU communications student said: "Most of my drinking sessions were quite chill because of how big the gatherings were. When there are many people, usually everyone would not do anything too wild."
A 19-year-old NUS business freshman said sexual misconduct often happens as a result of people not knowing how to navigate healthy relationships, and should not be attributed to alcohol.
Some students said harsher penalties for sexual misconduct, rather than alcohol curbs in campus housing, would be more effective in deterring potential offenders.
A second-year NUS political science student from Tembusu College, 21, said: "More emphasis needs to be placed on the handling of sexual misconduct cases... suspension or eviction from residence is too light (a punishment) for sexually harassing someone and touching them inappropriately."
Sexual misconduct refers to acts of a sexual nature committed against people without their consent, or when they are incapable of giving consent, such as when intoxicated. It can include voyeurism, indecent exposure, non-consensual touching, taking of upskirt photos and disseminating intimate information about another individual, among other things.
According to a code of student conduct uploaded on the NUS website in January, the drinking of alcohol is banned in the university except at designated campus food and beverage outlets during specified operating hours or at official university events where alcohol is served.
Responding to queries from ST, NTU said the sale of alcohol is limited to two out of over 30 food and beverage outlets on campus. Alcohol is also sold at four minimarts.
Consuming alcohol while representing the university in events or competitions, or when resulting in inability to manage oneself on campus, is regarded as anti-social behaviour and a violation of the code of student conduct, it added.
Students who display such behaviour will be subject to disciplinary action, which may include eviction from on-campus housing.
NTU said alcohol-related disciplinary offences among its students are rare, with one reported case taking place outside campus in the last two years which did not involve a sexual offence.
The NUS report said a task force comprising hostel masters and hostel student leaders has been formed to study the issue of sexual offences committed under the influence of alcohol, review the current framework and provide recommendations.
NUS' move to consider tougher enforcement resonates with some experts.
Dr Carol Balhetchet, a clinical psychologist, said that alcohol has a numbing and relaxing effect which suppresses anxiety, and gives the individual a sense of false bravado. "If it happens with adults, what more teenagers, who are willing to take risks and especially in groups - the alcohol gives them that sense of freedom to just do what they want."
She supports tougher enforcement against consumption of alcohol on campus. "In any case, alcohol, even for adults, is not allowed in workplaces. And if alcohol is not allowed in workplaces, why should it be allowed in educational institutions?"
A spokesman for Casmida, an independent research project by researchers from NUS and NTU, said alcohol can be one of many contributing factors to student sexual misconduct, with past scholarship showing that many such cases have been enabled or facilitated by alcohol and drugs. These cases include date rape.
But while alcohol may enable sexual violence and lower one's inhibitions, it does not create the intent to commit inappropriate acts, the spokesman added. "Ultimately, someone commits inappropriate acts out of their own conscious desire to do so."
An NUS freshman from Tembusu College, who identified herself as Ms Natasha, said inappropriate jokes were made by male students even during a respect and consent module held at the residential college.
All students and staff at NUS have had to undergo mandatory training on respect and consent since last year, following a spate of sexual misconduct cases involving NUS staff.
"So it could be a mindset issue," said Ms Natasha, adding that she supports tougher enforcement even if it means she can never drink on campus again. - The Straits Times/ANN
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