In February 2023, a 19-year-old female student was held against her will by her ex-boyfriend at the George Alleyne Hall of the University of the West Indies (UWI) for three days in his dorm room. 

During that time, she was reportedly subjected to physical and psychological abuse by her captor. The student was eventually rescued by the police and campus security. Thankfully, this student was not murdered. Nevertheless, her self-esteem and mental state may be further shattered if not handled with the utmost care. 

This article will explore the incident at the University of the West Indies, the need for separate dorms, and other universities around the world that have experienced similar situations.

The need for separate dorms

One of the proposed solutions to the problem is to have separate dorms for male and female students. 

This would help to prevent incidents of this nature from occurring in the future.

Having separate dorms for male and female students is not a new idea. Many universities around the world already have separate dorms for male and female students. Behind this is primarily the aim to ensure the safety and security of students whilst on campus, particularly of female students. It is a well-known fact that women are more vulnerable to sexual assault and other forms of violence than men. By having separate dorms, universities can help to reduce the risk of such incidents occurring on their campuses.

In addition to reducing the risk of sexual assault, having separate dorms can also help to create a more comfortable and conducive living environment for students. Many students feel more comfortable sharing a living space with people of the same gender, particularly when it comes to issues such as personal hygiene and modesty. Having separate dorms can also help to reduce the risk of gender-based bullying and harassment, which can be a problem in mixed-gender dorms. Now, I am not saying this will cure the issue, but it is a step in the right direction.

The University of the West Indies has seen an increase in the number of cases involving sexual harassment and violence. It is an issue that Vice-Chancellor Sir Hilary Beckles needs to come forth and address. Women on campus need to feel safe and should not live in fear of abuse -sexual or otherwise.

Last year, a female student was raped at the university which prompted it to declare that it would be putting tighter security measures in place. Now, this happens at George Alleyne Hall. 

A young man said to be central to this latest abuse of a female student where she alleges she was confined and tortured has now been charged with assault occasioning grievous bodily harm. Further investigations are being conducted by the Half-Way Tree police in the St Andrew Central division.

While incidents such as the one at the University of the West Indies are relatively rare, they do occur from time to time at universities around the world.

Here are a couple of universities that have experienced similar situations:

• William Paterson University, New Jersey

In 2014, a female student reported that she was held captive at the aforementioned university where she was made to perform sexual acts by her captors. All five male captors also lived on campus. They were arrested and charged for their crimes. 

• Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania

In 2015, an 18-year-old female student was killed by her 19-year-old boyfriend in her dorm room at Millersville University in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. 

The list goes on. Students and parents alike have to find ways of ensuring they can pay tuition for higher learning by whatever means necessary. At what cost should they bear the safety concerns of their children or loved ones? 

How will we keep our teens and young adults safe when they have left the safety of their homes? Should we agree with universities to have mixed dorms when safety is an issue or should we turn a blind eye and hope for the best? 

–Carmen Lopez is a clinical psychologist who practices in Panama and Miami.