Yahoo News Royal Welsh Drama School Apologizes To Two Former Students After They Successfully Sued Over Its Handling Of Sexual Assault Complaints
Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, a prestigious UK drama school once attended by Anthony Hopkins, has apologized to two former students after they successfully sued over its handling of their sexual misconduct complaints.
In a landmark judgment on Thursday, the Central London County Court ruled that Royal Welsh failed to uphold its duty of care to Sydney Feder and Alyse McCamish after they informed the school that they were victims of sexual assault by the same male student.
More from Deadline
“We are sorry that the women involved in this case were hurt by aspects of the way the college responded to their complaints,” Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama (RWCMD) said in a statement following the ruling.
Handing down his judgment, Recorder John Halford said drama schools have a duty of care to students to carry out reasonable investigations when they receive allegations of sexual assault from their students. Feder and McCamish’s lawyer said it was the first ruling of its kind.
In a statement, Feder said: “I hope that no student at RWCMD or any university has to go through what Alyse and I endured. Sadly, I have no confidence that RWCMD will not repeat their behaviour and I know of others who have suffered because their attitude towards sexual harassment.”
McCamish added: “I am grateful for this judgment as we have been listened to and RWCMD have had to answer for their actions in court.”
The ruling follows Deadline revealing widespread misconduct in UK drama schools and serious concerns among current and former students about how their complaints are dealt with. The reporting forms part of our Drama Schools Uncovered series.
Feder and McCamish are both U.S. nationals who joined RWCMD in 2015 and 2016 respectively. McCamish alleged that she was assaulted by a male student on four occasions in September 2016 during their time together in student accommodation. This included allegations that the male student masturbated in front of her and pushed her against a wall to perform oral sex over her pants.
She reported the incidents to RWCMD in June 2017, but was told to go to the police or get over it. No disciplinary action was taken against the male student, who denied wrongdoing.
Feder alleged that she was assaulted by the same male student in November 2017 and reported it to RWCMD two months later. She alleged the student entered a school changing room, spontaneously pushed her face down onto a table and rubbed her back aggressively, persisting despite her crying out in pain.
RWCMD launched an investigation in February 2018. The drama school concluded that there was “insufficient evidence” to support McCamish’s claims, but Feder had been subjected to “inappropriate touching.” The male student was formally warned, suspended for two weeks, and required to agree a reintegration plan. He appealed and his suspension was halved.
Feder and McCamish argued that they were not sufficiently protected, listened to, or supported by RWCMD. They said that the drama school’s investigation was unfair, flawed, and the action taken against the male student was insufficient. McCamish added the RWCMD made inadequate efforts to keep the man she accused in separate classes and away from her final-year shows.
Recorder John Halford was persuaded by their arguments. He respectively awarded Feder and McCamish £5,000 and £14,000 in damages for personal injury.
John Watkins, an attorney for Bater Law, said: “This is a total and complete vindication for Sydney and Alyse. For the first time their complaints have been taken seriously and they feel that they have finally been heard. It is a testament to their bravery that they took on this powerful institution that had treated them dreadfully whilst they were students and it is disappointing that the way that they conducted this litigation was a continuation of that treatment from the outset right up until the trial.”
RWCMD said: “Since 2017, we’ve transformed how we respond to sensitive disclosures, how we deal with complaints or concerns and how we support and safeguard our students.
“Universities and the theatre/film industries have made real changes in recent years in relation to many of the issues raised in this case. This includes how challenging aspects of an actor’s training – such as physical contact and intimacy – are taught.
“Following a major review and revalidation, our undergraduate Actor training course, with new leadership, has just received 100% satisfaction rating in the National Student Survey.
“We will never stop listening to and working with our staff and students and learning from others. We are focused on making sure our college is one where students learn and thrive, while being challenged professionally in a safe and supportive environment.”
The drama school released a 10-point summary of the changes it has made to its processes in recent years, including confidential reporting, intimacy guidelines, and improved support for those who raise concerns.
Best of Deadline
TV Cancellations Photo Gallery: Series Ending In 2023 & Beyond
2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
