(Biddeford, ME) – Over the last few weeks, numerous posts have been made via YikYak, a school-wide anonymous chat platform, describing instances of sexual harassment and assault happening in campus dorms. According to the anonymous accusations, a male RA in the freshman dorms has been accused of “sexually assaulting some girls and sleeping with residents.” The accused student has not responded to any of the Bolt’s additional requests for comment.
Officially reporting only five cases of sexual assault in 2023 via the Clery Report, UNE is one of the safest Universities in the state. UNE Students can report sexual assault through UNE’s GreenDot Program, which is advertised throughout campus, including the dorms, through posters and stickers. Additionally, UNE encourages students to report incidents to security over the phone or through their online reporting platform (https://une-advocate.symplicity.com/titleix_report/index.php/pid919777). Blue light stations are also placed around campus, allowing students to connect with security easily.
Though reports can be submitted anonymously, reporting these incidents to faculty can be highly stressful and intimidating. Due to this, many students have chosen less official methods of reporting incidents of assault and harassment. One of the places where students have taken their concerns in the last few weeks, more than ever, is YikYak—some even posting the full names of students they are accusing. These posts have been
quickly removed.
UNE responded to the uptick in accusations on YikYak through a WEAST newsletter, a weekly newsletter created for residents of East and West halls, stating how YikYak can be used as a “negative space where the cloak of anonymity creates an environment that does not align with what it means to be a Nor’easter.” The short YikYak-centered PSA encouraged students to “connect with an RA, AC, or other trusted employee at the University,” rather than connect with peers on YikYak regarding sexual assaults and harassment.
This response upset many students, one of whom, in reference to a piece of the PSA that encourages students to pay attention to their “digital legacy,” wrote, “My digital legacy is reporting rapists. What’s yours UNE?”
While YikYak seems anonymous on the surface, it is important to remember that posts can be traced back to an individual by campus security.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual assault or harassment, on or off campus, please report it to UNE security at https://une-advocate.symplicity.com/titleix_report/index.php/pid919777 or by calling (207) 283-0176.
