How does student activism drive cultural campus change in the UK and US regarding sexual violence on campus?

Bovill, Helen; Mcmahon, Sarah; Demers, Jennifer; Banyard, Victoria; Carrasco, Vlad; Keep, Louise

Abstract

Using policy frameworks and author expertise to identify relevant literature, four academics and two student-activist-authors, critically review literature upon student activist responses to sexual violence on campus. We conclude, student activism is pivotal to campus cultural change. In the UK, we review how student activism challenges outdated policy; in the US, how this has elevated the issue to national policy agendas. We apply theoretical frameworks of policy windows, policy entrepreneurs, campus readiness models and embodied intersectional citizenship. This article recommends universities work collaboratively with student activists, rather than viewing collaboration as a reputational risk. Further, we recommend developing Campus Community Readiness Models to include measures of collaboration. We contend, student activism can incur costs. Connecting activists online may help manage the transience of student activism. Collaboration and connection with and between student activists may represent a cultural shift toward sustainability stages of readiness characterised by community ownership.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 31, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 27, 2020
• Publication Date: May 1, 2021
• Deposit Date: Apr 28, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 28, 2020
• Journal: Critical Social Policy
• Print ISSN: 0261-0183
• Electronic ISSN: 1461-703X
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 41
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 165-187
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0261018320913967
• Keywords: Community ownership, cultural shift, embodied intersectional citizenship, policy entrepreneurs, sustainability
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/5940525