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UCD scholar Dr Aoibhinn Ní Shúilleabháin said it took her a long time to process her experience of harassment and abuse at her work and feels a broader conversation is needed on the subject.
She said that as a consequence of this she decided to make her experience public.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Today with Claire Byrne, Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin said that the topic of bullying is not limited to UCD or a single gender and that it is time to address the problem properly and change the culture and structures in academia.
He said he hopes his story will lead to significant changes in third-tier institutions.
Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin, assistant professor of mathematics, said the response to her story has been overwhelming.
He said he did not expect the volume of messages he received as a result of his Irish Times article over the weekend, adding that it was quite overwhelming to hear from so many people who have been in the same position or who have advocated for those suffering from bullying.
She talked about how she started lecturing at UCD in September 2014 and was happy and proud to start there as an academic.
Dr Ní Shúilleabháin said the harassment started in March / April 2015 when Professor Hans-Benjamin Braun began to initiate conversations that were “a bit out of the ordinary” and escalated to the point where he had to close the door from his office, he couldn’t work on campus late and didn’t go to campus on the weekends.
In addition, he had his phone ready to call emergency numbers at all times.
She said that she filed a complaint with the human resources department every time Professor Braun contacted her, which ultimately worked in her favor when she went to Gardaí in April 2017 after she “felt things were getting out of hand. “.
“I love my job and I don’t want to leave, but I felt like I was going to have to.”@aoibhinn_ni_s looks at the immense impact bullying had on her life. @HoyconClaire #HoyCB pic.twitter.com/PIsNnwqTw5
– RTÉ Radio 1 (@ RTERadio1) September 8, 2020
Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin said it was a great relief when the process was completed and regrets not having made an impact statement on the victim, but at the time she was on maternity leave and did not want to relive it all again or potentially see the teacher Braun in court. .
He said he would have liked more UCD support in filing a formal complaint and continually wonders why it took so long to do so.
Everyone at UCD followed the protocols, he said, but the policy at the time emphasized informal mediation, which is not appropriate for harassment cases because harassment is about power.
Professor Braun wanted to be in a room with her, he said, and he didn’t want to be in a room with him.
Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin said she knew institutions are reviewing their policies, which is welcome, but hopes that the new policies will be victim-centered and said cultures must be changed to help people reveal their experiences.
She added that if she were a 17 or 18-year-old student she would probably prefer to speak to someone who is independent from the university rather than someone who might have loyalty to the institution.
She said that she has received some very nice emails and letters from colleagues and alumni who were not aware of her experiences, adding that she does not want to be negative about UCD because she is passionate about her work and enjoys her career as an academic.
She said she was very glad she didn’t have to quit her job, but the only reason she didn’t leave is because she came across a webinar on bullying at the academy that gave her the impetus to go to gardaí.
Dr. Ní Shúilleabháin said she received a written apology from President Andrew Deeks and spoke with him.
He said he knew nothing of the apology until a friend sent him a link to the story on Sunday night.
In his opinion, he said, he was only concerned that that might be indicative of the university’s response because “if writing something on paper is action, that is not going to be enough.”
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