Lily's case highlights broader concerns among students about the university's handling of sexual violence cases, with several students reporting feeling "failed" by the staff.
Lily, who had to detail her traumatic experience to the university's finance team, suggests that the university needs to make support more visible and accessible. Despite reporting the incident to the police, no charges were made against the perpetrator.
Other students shared similar experiences of insufficient support or information from the university regarding sexual violence. The university's Disclosure Response Team (DRT) was unknown to some of these students, despite being responsible for student support.
Cardiff University acknowledged the need for improvement, stating its commitment to a zero-tolerance approach to violence against women. The university expressed concern over the testimonies and the Vice-chancellor, Prof Wendy Larner, indicated a willingness to meet with affected students to discuss improvements.
The university plans to review the promotion of the DRT and works with various external organizations to support victims of violence and abuse. Cardiff University Students' Union also recognized the need for more understanding of why students do not report serious incidents.