The Independent

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United Kingdom universities are "choking" to stop clauses students to go public with complaints about sexual Assault , bullying and bad teaching.

students said they felt pressured to sign non-disclosure agreements and were told they would be excluded, if you broke your contract.

Almost a third of universities have used NDAs for student complaints, which for 2016, data shows by Bbc News .

universities in the UK, said NDAs should not be used to silence the students.

Non-disclosure agreements designed to protect trade secrets, are legal contracts that prevent people from sharing Private Information .

NDAs were also used in The Settlement of complaints of false advertising of courses, the lack of disability support and accommodation issues, according to the data obtained under the Freedom of Information acts podcast

The government said it was "unacceptable" to NDAs for student complaints, and it is to stop legislation, such contracts are abused in all sectors of Society .

Getty image University NDAs

300 for 2016 to resolve student complaints

45 universities

£1. 3m

£250-£40,000 payout amounts

source: BBC freedom of information request'What is not Paid out happened after that was even worse than my Assault ,'

Charlotte - her real name - said she was sexually abused by another student, while a Student at the University of West London (UWL).

she reported how the University and The Police .

officers interviewed the arts student for five hours to say before you that there is not enough Physical Evidence for the prosecution because she had "fainted".

Charlotte said, she was "plunged into emotional chaos" and overdosed shortly thereafter.

she took three weeks sick leave to recover, but it did not feel supported, when they suffered back to the University and your Academic Work .

Charlotte said one of the employees thanked her in a private session for her alleged attacker to ruin the lives of. She later said, she would be excluded, if you made a fuss, she added.

"you thanked, literally, for me," She Said . "I can't believe someone would say that if it happened to me. Not him. "

In a receptacle which, together with Bbc News , the employee also had to tell her classmates she "was in a very bad place," and discourage you to contact your

"It was hell on earth," said Charlotte. "How you treated me, was worse than The Attack itself. I felt so alone. "

she filed a formal complaint and took action after it received £ 1,000 compensation. As part of the agreement that you signed an NDA prevent you from the discussion about the conditions.

The University of West London, said she denied the allegations and had Charlotte with all the support, he might add, that it could not comment further because of their duties of confidentiality.

In a statement, he said, it had to be supplemented with the review of its policy in relation to the national recommendations for responding to sexual harassment at universities: "We have implemented and a team of staff who are trained to assist students, the victims of sexual Assault . "

Olivia has signed an agreement that says you will be "reported" if she speaks publicly about her accusations Said, I would be excluded,'

Olivia , a student at a different University, says she was violently sexually abused by a fellow student during her Undergraduate Degree , and reported The Attack to The Police , but the case was dropped because the evidence is not sufficient.

As a result of the decision by The Police , the University refused to investigate, according to documents seen by Bbc News .

after The Attack , Olivia signed an agreement that says you will be shown "" when the method calls or contributions that is publicly about their allegations or the University of the protection.

Olivia , not her real name, says she signed the document, because they fear for their safety, and it contained an agreement that does not prevent your attacker is a connection with her, but she feels it is far enough.

it was not money or any legal Council before signing it.

the University has also threatened to sue you, when she speaks, she claims.

"appalled me," She Said . "She told me, not my parents, not tell, to say, my friends, basically, Just Be calm, it... it made it feel like it was my fault. "

Georgina Calvert-Lee, a lawyer specializing in sexual Assault cases, said most of the uses of NDAs on students with this kind of accusations were "unethical" and should not be legally enforceable.

'bullying affected not to mention'

Tiziana Scaramuzza, now 36, a former PhD student who was Paid from Oriel College , Oxford, in support of student welfare in addition to your law degree in the year 2013.

she says that she always concerns with the senior staff about what they thought were the failures of the suicide prevention measures and alleged violations of the duty of confidentiality, if the support at-risk students.

she told the BBC, a member of staff was daunting to go depressed students to The Doctor , for the benefit of one-on-one support sessions with you, even though you are qualified to do this.

"I was bullied in silence and all my concerns were dismissed, or shouted down," She Said . "You treated me like dirt. "

According to Tiziana submitted proposals for the improvement of security measures, Oriel College £offered her 5,000 settlement with a NDA to the relationships that you accepted.

"It was completely inappropriate," She Said . "They treated me like an inconvenience, like I was the problem rather than the problem.

"Once I moved to another University up to the end of my PhD, I learned they had made no changes, this was troubling, because a lot of students were susceptible. "

Oriel College said it could not comment on Ms Scaramuzza claims confirmed, however, that a "thorough investigation" in the provision of social benefits was carried out in the year 2013.

He added: "The University takes the welfare of students and staff very seriously. Currently, we have several employees, external physicians and consultants, the provision of social assistance. "

How widespread is the problem?

Bbc News sent asked freedom of information requests to almost all British universities, as many students are non-disclosure agreements were signed in The Past four years, according to a complaint, and how much, if at all, the money was Paid .

contacted All but two of the 136 universities, of answered, with varying degrees of transparency due to privacy concerns or claims of confidentiality.

Of these 45 universities said they had not means to NDAs, but all of them reported full details of what, it is difficult to define the true extent and this is an underestimate.

The data show More Than 300 students have signed NDAs to complaints, since the year 2016, with the entire cost Paid More Than £1. 3m - the equivalent of over 50 Bachelor's degree.

Individual payouts ranged from £250 to nearly £40,000.

But the data also showed, not every student that a complaint will receive a payout - sometimes only a NDA and it is not clear why this is so.

It Comes after the

The Student complaints regulatory authority, the said office of The Independent judge, the use of NDAs was "not appropriate" and advised against The Practice .

It receives More Than 1500 complaints per year, and said it was important that grievances be "fair and transparent" so that the colleges learned from them.

In a statement, said the government: "harassment of any kind is despicable and Higher Education providers have a responsibility to ensure that you have a safe and inclusive environment. "

universities in the UK, the equivalent of 136 institutions, added: "Every student should feel safe and supported through their time at the University, and this includes the feeling to speak with the authority if you have concerns. "

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Source of news: bbc.com