The three month long saga of 13 students evicted from Robb College has had a breakthrough of sorts, with all being invited to come back to college. However, none are expected to return.
The 13 residential leaders were subjected to an ’emergency exclusion’ from the college with no notice, nor given any due process, after an allegation was made that they were involved in some kind of hazing or bullying event.
The college did not respond to any requests for comment, and the University refused to detail what the students were accused of.
In their statement and communication with residents of Robb College today, UNE still has not detailed what happened or why the exclusion was necessary, other than to say “UNE takes complaints of hazing or initiation activity at any UNE residential college seriously”.
In the email from Director of UNE Residential Systems, Leah Cook, the University conveyed its continued demands that the matter remain confidential “and we ask that you be respectful of the privacy of all those involved”. They also have not apologised for the actions of the University, but acknowledged the “impact it may have had” on other Robb residents, and referred them to generic student welfare services.
The University’s media team were apparently not on the same page as their Director of Residential Services, however, describing the findings as “preliminary”, which would indicate the inquiry is ongoing, rather than concluded.
“The University today confirmed that preliminary findings have been handed down regarding allegations at Robb College,” the anonymous University spokesperson said.
“Each of the students involved have been invited to respond to the preliminary findings concerning them.”
“Too little, Too late”
Andrew Hunt, the father of one of the excluded residents, says they are seeking an apology from the University, in particular for the mishandling and unnecessary length of the investigation.
“All 13 students have been allowed back into the college immediately, but it’s too little too late because they turfed them out and they were homeless – the kids have had to sign leases elsewhere,” he said.
“It’s just an absolute farce it’s taken 12 weeks to get to this point.”
The families are understandably angry at the way their young people have been treated, but they are also saddened that their rich college life was taken from them.
“We send our kids to university as part of their growing up… and I think the college environment is an excellent environment to that, where you’ve got older kids looking down at you, where you’ve got the alumni foundation and mentors supporting you,” Mr Hunt said.
“You know, the irony for us is we’ve got 4 kids. Our first three kids went to other institutions, our fourth kid arrived at Robb two and a half years ago.”
“We thought ‘gee, what a shame that our first three kids missed this experience’, because it was just such a great a great part of growing up.”
Mr Hunt gave some insight into the allegations, saying that his son was “accused of sanctioning gender based violence” because he played a role in separating men and women for an O-Week function that involved older female students having a ‘big sister’ chat with the female first years about communal living and gender based violence. He was accused of the same for allowing male and female students to travel on separate buses to an event.
Other trivial accusations included that they made an orientation week information session compulsory, and that they had made nicknames that just played on individuals names as is common across society, and a denied allegation that the leadership group had provided alcohol at an event.
One of the allegations of hazing, according to students, involved some kind of a drinking game at the New England hotel during O-Week. The Newie declined to comment, asking that the privacy of the students involved be respected, echoing the University’s line.
UNE mishandling core issue
Mr Hunt says the mishandling of the matter has “left the kids absolutely nowhere”, and the residential leaders, who had proven themselves to suitable leaders over the previous two years,
“They’ve had this summary justice applied to them by somebody being not fit to hold the position, and the University’s taken three months to investigate what could have been investigated in 12 hours.”
“In the meantime, the kids have had their lives dislocated. They’ve had to find other accommodation.”
“Some kids have been travelled home hundreds of kilometres and been trying to university from home during the interim had to sign leases, so they’re now in a position where they can’t go back into college.”
Exclusion from the residential colleges is a punishment available to administrators under the UNE Residential Code of Conduct. Under section 93 of the Code, emergency exclusion or transfer to another college is available only when:
- the immediate physical or emotional safety and well-being of any other College Members is at risk; or
- the immediate physical or emotional safety and well-being of the College Member involved is at risk; or
- the College Member poses an immediate threat of disruption of, or interference with, the safe and orderly operations of the College.
There is no suggestion, and there has never been any suggestion, that the 13 individuals excluded were all posing an immediate threat to the college or residents. However, as the individuals involved have been threatened with consequences if they discuss matters with anyone – including their own parents – it is impossible to assess how many ‘penalty points’ the residential leaders allegedly amassed to face exclusion at all, let alone an emergency exclusion.
“University administration has put a screen of secrecy around events. The students have been told they are not to discuss the events with anyone,” Mr Hunt said, a claim supported by multiple students and even academics who were similarly instructed not to discuss the events and surrounding matters.
“Even now they’re telling students this is all confidential. They’re not to release anything about their status in the investigation.”
“It’s intimidating.”
The University has refused to confirm that no substantive findings were made against the students, and have refused on multiple occasions to answer questions about the events, and whether the excluded students would be given a refund for their fees, or whether any other apology or reparations would be made.
However, Head of College Terri-Lee Duffy remains on extended leave, apparently pending her own investigation. The University would not confirm she has been suspended, however the email from Leah Cook states Siobhan Hamblin will continue to act as Head of College.
In a statement, the parents of the excluded students have laid the blame squarely on the University and its flawed processes, calling out the significant power imbalance between the institution and individual students.
“We are relieved our children have been invited to return to Robb College after months of unnecessary hardship, but remain deeply concerned about how this situation was handled,” the statement reads.
“The exclusion conditions were harsh and unreasonable. UNE fundamentally failed in their duty of care toward these students, demonstrating a serious lack of responsiveness to their needs. Both the psychological and physical safety of our children was severely compromised throughout this process.
“The entire process lacked humanity and engagement. There was minimal communication from UNE leadership, with promised support services like emergency accommodation and counselling materialising inconsistently, if at all. Protracted timelines in UNE processes further exacerbated student stress.
“Ironically, these students were committed to positive cultural change at Robb but became victims of an overreaction. The power imbalance between UNE administration and students left our children powerless, severely impacting their studies, mental health, and future prospects.
“A formal complaint has been lodged regarding the Head of College’s management and the disproportionate treatment of students that caused significant trauma and financial hardship to young people simply trying to complete their education.
“We now call on UNE to undertake an extensive review of their policies and procedures to ensure no future students suffer similar injustices,” the statement concludes.
Students unlikely to return to college, more to leave
After 3 months of delay, the affected students are unlikely to return to Robb College.
All of the leadership positions at Robb will apparently be declared vacant, and the 13 have been invited to re-apply for their roles. Which will be difficult given they now live elsewhere, even if they did want to return.
The enormous impact on the disruption that has clouded almost all of first trimester has also significantly affected other students, including their academic performance, with one student confiding he would need to repeat a unit for the first time in his degree.
“It seems dumb that something’s happening to a mate and it would affect me, but I guess I just don’t trust the University anymore,” one student said.
Another student was now going to transfer to another university.
“I’ve loved living at Robb, it was the best thing about uni, but now I just don’t want to be there,” they said.
A third said they would not be returning to college next year.
“Not to Robb anyway.”
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