Fresh on the heels of the Sex Scandal in Hollywood, comes more allegations of sexual abuse and harassment. This time, though, the allegations are aimed at those in academia. University of California Law Student, Raya Sarkar, has compiled a list of alleged sexual predators in academia.

The list was created to give voice to those victims at colleges who did not speak out against their abusers for fear of retribution by the academic institution. However, Sarkar is facing backlash for her list, which she published in full on Facebook. The list specifically named the names of professors, heads of departments, and administrative heads of various colleges in India, who allegedly harassed or abused students.

Sarkar's sexual predator list

The list was created in the wake of the #MeToo movement following the explosive sex scandals that have been shaking Hollywood recently. BBC News reported that Sarkar wished to make fellow students feel safe on their campuses by providing the names of professors who are sexual predators.

Sarkar's list is a product of a broken system which fails to hold sexual predators accountable for their abuse and harassment. The campaign is being called "Name & Shame" according to StoryPick, who also reported that the list started out as a shared Google Excel sheet titled "Sexual Violence Hall of Shame."

As a result of the list, only a couple of men have had official complaints lodged against them, according to BBC News, while the majority of the named professors have not been legally charged.

However, Sarkar is facing a split reception to her published list of sexual predators with some commending her actions, others worried about the legalities and fallout, and still others sending her death and rape threats.

Sexual predator list publication backlash and fallout

It seems that feminists are split down the middle on the discussion of Sarkar's list.

BBC News reports, Nivedita Menon, a feminist author, and professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University released the following statement, "Where there are genuine complaints, there are institutions and procedures, which we should utilize...This manner of naming can delegitimize the long struggle against sexual harassment, and make our task as feminists more difficult."

This has come about due to the list not explaining what exactly those listed are accused of.

The list itself only contains names, and while Sarkar supposedly received emails and WhatsApp messages from students who detailed their sexual abuse and harassment stories, those details are not included in the published list.

On top of feminists attacking Sarkar's approach to standing up for victims of sexual abuse and harassment, Sarkar has also received personal death and rape threats. But Sarkar isn't backing down or shying away from her decision, right or wrong, to stand up and provide a voice for victims of sexual abuse and harassment. She even took to Facebook to talk about a specific incident between herself and one of the names on the list, academic Ashley Tellis.

Whether her methods are agreed with or not, the fact that Sarkar is standing up for victims and giving them a place to tell their personal stories and cast light on the abuse happening within academic institutions is certainly commendable.

Times are changing and it's important, now more than ever, to hold sexual predators accountable for their actions, and to bring to light just how widespread the problem really is.

Comment below on whether you agree with Sarkar's methods or not, and what else can be done to hold sexual predators accountable.
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