Here's some information on the people who make up our Lad Culture Strategy Advisory Panel...

Susuana Amoah
NUS National Women's Officer

'As National Women's Officer, one of my biggest priorities this year is to engage students in local and national action to combat lad culture on UK campuses. Throughout the year, I'll be making sure that NUS provides relevant help to students' unions so that they can develop local strategies and make effective changes in their educational communities.

'As chair of the national lad culture strategy team I'll be liaising with specialists from across different sectors to make sure NUS delivers the best guidance for students' unions and universities as possible to create safer and happier campuses. On a national level I'll be making sure that the voices of students are central to the outcome of Universities UK’s task force to tackle violence against women on campuses.'

 

Laura Bates
Founder, Everyday Sexism

'I am hugely impressed by the tireless work of the National Union of Students to tackle gender inequality and other intersecting forms of prejudice head on and send a powerful message that there is no place for any form of discrimination or harassment on campus. The National Strategy Team on Lad Culture has played a vital role in elevating the issue to the national agenda, sparking vital debate and taking concrete action against a problem that has a very real negative impact on thousands of students' daily lives. At the Everyday Sexism Project, we regularly receive testimonies from students who have experienced sexism, sexual harassment and sexual assault on campus, from being photographed without their consent to being groped on nights out. Every student has the right to a learning environment free of fear, harassment and assault and I am proud to support NUS in their efforts towards that goal.'

 

Alison Phipps
Director of Gender Studies & Reader in Sociology, University of Sussex

'NUS have been at the forefront of putting ‘lad culture’ and violence against women students on the national policy agenda. Their research, campaigns and initiatives on this issue have created an evidence base, a political discourse and a set of ideas for tackling the problem which many others have built upon. I am immensely proud of my association with NUS on this topic and continually impressed by the leadership they show. I hope universities will now follow the example NUS have set, and feel confident that this ‘lad culture’ hub will provide a set of resources to help to facilitate productive interventions.'

 

Sue Abbott
Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in the Newcastle Business School, Northumbria University in Newcastle- Upon- Tyne. UCU NEC

'I am really keen to ensure that we get Universities tackling lad culture. Educating is my profession and passion. As a Senior Lecturer I want to work in a culture where dignity and respect is the priority for both staff and students. UCU as the representative union for lecturers has strong policy in its commitment to zero tolerance relating to lad culture and that is what I aim to promote.'

 

Dr. Vanita Sundaram
Senior Lecturer in Education and Programme leader, BA Educational Studies, University of York

'I am delighted to be associated with NUS efforts to tackle 'lad culture' in higher education. The NUS has initiated a much-needed national conversation about students' experiences of violence and sexual abuse in universities. Their excellent research and campaigns have informed political actions and discourse on the issue and I am proud that my own research, with Carolyn Jackson, has been able to contribute to and expand the existing evidence base. I am wholly supportive of NUS work to bring together academic research, professional practice and student activism to create resources for universities to draw on. It is my hope that universities will now take a pro-active approach to tackling violence against women students and will draw on the NUS hub resources to develop targeted interventions.'

 

Bryony Beynon
Trainer and prevention worker, Rape Crisis South London

'I'm a trainer and prevention worker for Rape Crisis South London, and part of my role includes running workshops for young people to discuss sex, consent and gender in a safe supportive space. I also co-founded an initiative called Good Night Out Campaign, which gives licensed premises around the world, including students' unions, the practical tools to effectively deal with, tackle and prevent sexual harassment. I am also the co-Director of Hollaback London, part of the global movement to end street harassment. All of my work pushes against a tide of all-pervasive 'lad culture', and the NUS has led on the hugely important long term work in 'naming the problem' and taking an active stance to interrogate it. I look forward to contributing to further positive change in this area.'

 

Sorana Vieru
NUS Vice President (Higher Education)

'My role as Vice President (Higher Education) includes fighting to improve teaching and learning for all students, which means ensuring academic environments are inclusive and accessible to all learners. 

'Fighting against lad culture extends to the lecture theatre, seminar room or lab where sexist attitudes prevail and can make students feel unable to participate. The academic establishment mirrors the structures of oppression in wider society and it’s critical that we work to make universities safe spaces for all students as well as staff, that are also at the forefront of challenging problematic and harmful behaviours.'

 

Richard Brooks
NUS Vice President (Union Development)

'As Vice President (Union Development) of NUS, it’s my role to ensure that students’ unions are as strong as possible. We know that working through their union transforms a students’ life, and can change the world. 

'But right now we are in a situation in education across the country where we are shutting people out of their students’ unions, denying them their education and making them feel unsafe. I’m proud to sit on the national strategy board to tackle lad culture because only through leading nationally, can we challenge and change unacceptable behaviour locally.'