Students at the University of Lincoln have criticised the recent removal of memorial messages and called for change.

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The messages were written in chalk on seats outside the library following the death of Sarah Everard, who went missing on 3 March while travelling home in Clapham, London, and was later found dead. Wayne Couzens, 48, a serving Metropolitan Police officer, has since been charged with her kidnap and murder.

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In reaction to the anger and confusion after the messages were removed, Rebecca Covill, who studies Psychology, sent an email to the university that has been backed by hundreds of students.

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“I wanted to get across how everyone was feeling and bring the sense of one community together. I lost count of names – it went over 500. There were masses and masses of people who wanted to be included,” she said.

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In the email, Ms Covill questions why the messages were removed and urges for drastic changes, such as a permanent memorial for a “demonstration of solitude with individuals who face harassment and assault of any nature” and “compulsory education of students about sexism, racism, disabilities, class differences” and other forms of discriminatory issues.

The email has also been supported by Dr Patrick Hylton, a senior lecturer in the School of Psychology.

 

In response, a spokesperson for the University of Lincoln said the removal of the messages happened as a result of people working away from the campus, not knowing what was happening on the ground.

“The removal of the messages was a mistake. It was not a deliberate attempt to deny women a voice,” the spokesperson said.

“All of us who are part of the university community regret that the chalk messages were removed. We came together to remember Sarah Everard in our vigil, and to raise awareness of the extent and impact of aggressive and violent behaviour towards women.

“Women must have a voice and any new chalk messages will not be removed.”

 

Lizzie, a student at the university who wrote some of the messages, expressed how they were crucial in allowing others to reflect, talk and open up about incidences that have occurred, highlighting the inequality that women face.

She’s asked for her last name not to be published to protect her privacy.

“To see the university wipe them away was like wiping away our freedom to speak,” Lizzie said. “I was sexually harassed in February and, for me, knowing other people had been in similar situations and that it wasn’t my fault helped a lot.”

 

Mitchell James Haywood also wrote some of the original messages. He’s since shared some posts in a local Facebook group, expressing his frustration and encouraging fellow students to stand against any injustice.

“Speak out. Stand up for this. Beat the injustice,” he said – and “get the chalk; we have work to do”.

 

The Linc asked Elly Sample, director of development at the university, whether she thinks Lincoln is a safe city to live in.

“I do,” she said. “I have lived and worked at different places in the U.K. and around the world and my favourite is Lincoln.”

She did however add that nowhere can be completely safe and that there is a need to look out for each other.

 

The Linc then posed the same question to female students.

“I’m in multiple Lincoln girl safety group chats and there are incidents every single day,” said Lizzie, from earlier in the article.

“I think as a woman it can be quite scary walking around certain parts,” said Eliza Dunn, a Psychology student. “When I lived on [another] street, it was awful walking around at night because there were no lights on the street,” she added.

Ms Dunn has been working to implement changes. “Some of the ideas I presented were introducing workshops that focus on domestic violence and sexual assault against women,” she said.

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Lucy Krogdahl, vice president of wellbeing and community at University of Lincoln Students’ Union, said that continuous education and changes in attitude are needed to ensure the safety of women.

“It is not the responsibility of women to do this. It falls on all of us to challenge violent behaviours and the stigma that women are to blame for feeling unsafe in their daily lives,” she said.

 

Ms Sample, director of development, explained that the university have a duty of care for all students and that there are security staff available 24/7 on campus.

“We liaise regularly with police and other agencies about public safety and the night-time economy. We have a night-time mental health advisor who is available to support all of our students, whether they are on or off campus,” she said.

 

The university emphasises that students can come forward to expert support staff without fear, in a positive and supportive environment where abuse and harassment will not be tolerated.

 To report any incident, with the option of remaining anonymous, you can contact Student Services on 01522 886400.