To retake an exam, I needed a signature of a department head. I came to his office, he went out to check if anyone was waiting me in the corridor. The corridor was empty, he locked the cabinet, removed his pants in front of me and said: "Come on." I studied at the University of Physical Culture in Lviv, he was not young but strong, a wrestler or something like that. I was confused, not quite ready for such situation. I said: "I cannot, I'm on my period." But he insisted. I persuaded him to let me go, because a taxi was waiting to go to the exam, and his signature was needed immediately.
However, this story was not over. The next semester. At one exam, an instructor told me that I would pass, but I needed to go to the department head first. So, I had to go there again. He tried to force me into a sauna at the sports complex. I had to lie that I told my dad about everything. Although I could not talk to my family about it.
It was a long time ago, at a time when no one was talking about sexual extortion, and that times were somehow calmer. Now I communicate with students from different universities and I have heard many similar stories. At universities, this phenomenon, unfortunately, is widespread.
Head of the "Women's Perspectives" Centre
Marta Chumalo