Queen Mary students no longer wearing skirts after camera found under university desk

Students at Queen Mary, University of London (QMUL) say they’re no longer wearing skirts after a camera was found under a desk on campus.

Last month, the news broke that a camera was found hidden under a desk in a study space at QMUL which appeared to have been used for filming students without their consent.

Students at the university voiced their concerns after an email was sent out by the university informing them of the discovery.

The email, seen by The Tab, said: “Following the discovery of an under-desk camera in the Graduate Centre this week (which was immediately removed) – and reports of concerning behaviour from students regarding unauthorised filming – we continue to take all necessary steps to investigate the issue.”

Since the revelation, a number of students have come forward to say they will no longer be wearing skirts.

Speaking to the Metro, 21-year-old QMUL student, Lara, said: “I don’t wear dresses or skirts, even in the summer, because I know people film me.

“It makes you feel like a sex object…it makes me feel sad I do not have any control.

“It is a double standard. No matter if a man had a six pack out in the street I would never film someone at random.”

A second student Naomi, 18, explained how last summer, an older man recorded her on the bus in London.

She said that whilst he didn’t upskirt her, “you can always tell when they are trying to be sly but you know they are recording you”.

Naomi added that the incident made her feel violated and “grossed out”.

“The eye of the camera brings more intimacy, it violates so much of your privacy,” she said.

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A third student told the Metro that she had heard the camera feed was live streamed to a group chat. However, QMUL said it did not find evidence to support this claim.

Lara explained that she feels issues like upskirting are “trivialised” and that men “do not feel a sense of responsibility or wrongdoing”.

“At age six a boy lifts up your skirt in the playground and the teacher tells them it is wrong but some boys clearly grow up to people who do not feel they have to stop doing that,” she said.

Upskirting has been illegal in England and Wales since 2019. The penalties for the crime are up to two years in prison and potential sex offender registration.

A spokesperson for Queen Mary University of London said: “Last month, security colleagues found a camera under a desk in one of our student areas. They immediately removed the camera, which did not contain a memory card, was not connected to any other device and appears not to have been connected to any wireless network.

“No other devices were found following a scan of study spaces across the university, which we continue to monitor.

“The safety and security of our Queen Mary community is our number one priority. We continue to investigate this serious matter thoroughly, as part of which we have reported the incident to the police. Support is available to our students and staff, including through our dedicated, 24/7 student wellbeing helpline and our advice and counselling service.”

Featured image via Google Maps