Warwick university students banned over rape threats and racial slurs allowed back early

Women targeted in Facebook chat 'humiliated' and 'destroyed' by the remarks

(University of Warwick via Facebook)

Students who were banned from the University of Warwick's campus for 10 years for participating in a chat which included rape threats have reportedly been allowed to return in the autumn.

Racist, antisemitic and misogynistic messages were exchanged in a Facebook group chat among students last year – including the remark “sometimes it’s fun to just go wild and rape 100 girls".

Eleven male students were suspended last year after the exchanges, which included the term “p**i” and the “love Hitler, hate n****s and jews and Corbyn", were shared with the prestigious university.

Two of the male students, who were banned from campus for a decade, have since had their bans reduced to just one year after winning an appeal, according to student newspaper The Boar.

The university said it was “unable to comment” on individual discipline cases.

Students, alumni and parents have reacted angrily on social media to the university’s decision and subsequent response using the hashtag #ShameOnYouWarwick.

Emma Sephton, former student and employee at the university, tweeted: “I am ashamed of @warwickuni's actions. Those targeted now have to share their space & try to study with these people. You are partaking in the abuse.

“Warwick is not a big campus, how are you going to make them feel safe?”

Hundreds more have signed a petition calling for the culprits to face a more extreme punishment.

In an open letter to the university, published in The Boar, a women who was targeted in the group chat, said she had been “humiliated” and “destroyed” by the remarks made.

She wrote: "You expect us to return from semesters abroad and study alongside these men?

"It is a source of shame for past, present and future Warwick alumni that you lack the courage to stand by us."

A University of Warwick spokesperson said: “We are unable to comment further on individual student discipline cases, but we can assure you that the university has a robust student discipline procedure that includes a detailed investigation, and consideration of the case by a committee of senior academic staff and students' union sabbatical officers.”