More severe punishments are in store for future sexual offenders in the National University of Singapore.

Recommendations have been made by the committee set up by NUS to review both the disciplinary measures and support framework in place for cases of sexual misconduct.

New punishments proposed

According to The Straits Times, quoting an e-mail circular sent to NUS staff and students on May 15, the following measures have been proposed:

• A minimum suspension of one calendar year from the university.
• Expulsion in the case of "serious" offences.
• Certification of rehabilitation by a counsellor or medical professional required before the offender can return to campus after the suspension.
• Details of the suspension to be included in the offender's transcript, to which potential employers will refer.

However, for the transcript, this will only remain for an unspecified period of time after graduation.

The email was sent by a Kay Kuok, who chairs the committee.

Its final report will be published sometime in June.

More views sought, Victim Care Unit under consideration

Besides the recommendations, the committee also gave updates on other measures.

An independent research group has been engaged to carry out an anonymous, confidential online survey to gather the views of the student body.

More views will be sought, with the committee looking towards students, alumni and experts for their take on the proposed sanctions.

Also, the committee is reviewing NUS's proposal to form a dedicated "Victim Care Unit", which will be staffed by "trained and experienced" care officers to provide victims with support.

Kuok said, as quoted by ST: "There is a clear need to recalibrate the sanctions framework and toughen the penalties for sexual misconduct to serve as a strong deterrent, and to reflect the severity of the offences."

The committee was set up after NUS undergraduate Monica Baey posted on Instagram about how fellow NUS student Nicholas Lim filmed her while in the shower.

She pointed out her dissatisfaction with how the case was handled, sparking a wider conversation on how NUS handles sexual misconduct cases.

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