Yesterday, Dutch blog GeenStijl published an article in which an anonymous person reports sexual harassment by a candidate for the board of Carolus Magnus. The sexual misconduct allegedly lasted for one and a half years. The association denies the allegations.

According to GeenStijl, the first #MeToo scandal has reached Nijmegen student life. The weblog published an anonymous letter yesterday, in which accusations are made against a prominent member of Carolus Magnus. The man is supposedly on the list of possible members of next year’s board.

In the letter, he is accused of ’touching buttocks, breasts, physically holding the female member to prevent her from leaving.’ During the association’s anniversary, the female member would be kissed against her will, after which it became ’too much’ for her and she decided to raise the alarm. The victim supposedly was badly harassed for one and a half years, while the board protected the perpetrator.

Surprised

The board of Carolus Magnus claims to be surprised by the letter. Praeses Kevin Brinkers: ‘We have never seen this letter before. GeenStijl’s publication comes as a total surprise to us.’ Brinkers does not know who wrote the letter.

He admits that there have been complaints from a female association member about the candidate board member. In response to this, Carolus Magnus decided that the man will not take seat in the board next year, according to Brinkers. He is still a member of the association and can stay active at Carolus Magnus.

Brinkers does not want to elaborate on the content of the woman’s complaint. ‘That is her own wish. We want everybody to feel safe to come to us when he or she feels unfairly treated. We do not want to harm that trust by giving out information about those conversations.’

Supported

What he can say: the serious accusations that are made in the letter, like the unwanted touching of private parts, have not been made before. Why the anonymous person did make these accusations now and sent them to the press? Brinkers says he has no idea.

Brinkers says that Carolus Magnus is supported by several alumni after the publication on GeenStijl. They are looking into the association’s next steps. Brinkers does not rule out legal steps.