“The extent” of sexual violence at the École normale supérieure (ENS) in Lyon was “known, has been traced over and over again, but nothing has been done for many years”, denounced on franceinfo Friday, October 29 Alfred Bovon, student vice-president of the ENS de Lyon, and member of the listening device created this spring within the School.
>> INVESTIGATION. Sexual violence at ENS Lyon: management accused of “denial”
A damning investigation for the management of the École normale supérieure de Lyon was published on Thursday, October 28. She concludes that management has “not sufficiently grasped the extent of the problem”. Conducted for several months by the General Inspectorate of Education, Sport and Research, it identified 27 situations of sexual and gender-based violence, including nine “would fall under the qualification of rape”. However, only two situations gave rise to disciplinary proceedings. The other cases are closed or still under investigation.
franceinfo: Are you surprised by the scale, the number of identified situations?
Alfred Bovon: Absolutely not. It is a reality that we have known, endured and denounced for many years. The magnitude of this wave was known, was traced time and time again, and nothing was done for many years. It was very common to put a lot of stuff under the carpet. Now there is the listening device which makes it possible to do better, but it is still not perfect.
Is the presidency of the School up to the task?
She must take her responsibilities. I think that disciplinary procedures must be initiated quickly, that the victims can be listened to, and that their requests can be satisfied as quickly as possible. That the victims be informed of all the proceedings. Procedures are in progress and are very long compared to the daily reality of the victims, which is to have in their courts people accused of rape, and dangerous. This is what shocks and is the reality today in the School.
The General Inspectorate of Education, in its report, speaks of a deleterious social climate. How does this translate?
We regret that the School did not react during the too many requests that we were able to make. This resulted in a very difficult climate, where the floor is not listened to in the various meetings and bodies of the School, where the students’ voice is systematically cut off. It’s very hard to speak, to take a stand. The social climate of mistrust prevents certain things. Internally, we were accused of damaging the image of the School, when press articles appeared last February. This reaction had caused a demonstration in the school, with more than 200 people who wanted to make understand to the president that it was not a question of image of the School. It is a matter of health and safety for the students.
In this deleterious climate, can we calmly conduct studies at the ENS?
Not for everybody. Some people come with a lump in their stomach in the morning. Others have had to leave the School, or change their course. We’re stopping a doctorate. It is a School which offers an admirable study environment to develop intellectually. But a lot of things should be done on these questions of society which are not only media and image but real questions of health and safety.