Brendan Edgeworth UNSW
Sexual Harassments
That morning, I woke up with anticipation for the law class I was taking with Professor Edgeworth. He had a stellar reputation as one of the best professors at UNSW, and I was genuinely excited about the opportunity to learn from him. But the moment I walked into class, I sensed something was amiss.
Professor Edgeworth’s behavior towards me was unsettling. He made lewd comments about my appearance and consistently invaded my personal space with uncomfortable touches.
At first, I tried to shrug it off, convincing myself it was harmless banter. However, as the weeks went by, his actions became increasingly disturbing. I dreaded attending class, feeling a knot in my stomach each time he made an inappropriate comment or crossed a boundary.
I knew deep down that what he was doing was wrong, but I felt powerless to end it. Then one day, Professor Edgeworth surprised me by inviting me to his office after class under the guise of discussing a course topic. I hesitated but thought it might be an opportunity to gain clarity and expand my legal knowledge.
However, the moment we began talking, the situation turned dark. He made explicit remarks about my body and asked deeply personal questions unrelated to the course. Unwanted advances followed, and when I tried to leave, he forcefully grabbed my arm, trapping me in his office.
Fear consumed me as I realized I was helpless at that moment. Only when another student knocked on the door he released his grip, allowing me to escape. I fled, feeling violated and traumatized by the encounter.
I promptly reported the incident to the university, initiating an investigation. It came to light that Professor Edgeworth had a history of sexually harassing female students, leading to his eventual termination.
Although a sense of relief washed over me that justice was served, I couldn’t shake the profound feelings of betrayal and anger towards Professor Edgeworth. The memory of that experience will forever remain with me.
However, I was determined to transform my pain into purpose by raising awareness about sexual harassment and supporting fellow students who might be enduring similar situations.
