Online media Long Play published on 30.5. an article (only in Finnish) about “Musician” who is said to have grossly abused their position of power in classical music and committed serious sexual harassment and inappropriate treatment of numerous young musicians. The University of the Arts Student Union (TaiYo) considers the reported actions extremely reprehensible and the incidents truly sad.
At the same time, the student union greatly appreciates the fact that the victims have come forward with the matter and that the cases have thus come to light. In this situation, victims need all the support, especially from within the art field.
The University of the Arts Student Union demands action from the University of the Arts Helsinki in this regard. "Uniarts Helsinki's mission is to ensure a safe learning environment for every student. There can be no flexibility on this, even if the harassment is committed by a respected artist or a person working within the institution. The University of the Arts Helsinki has a special responsibility for developing the entire field in a more equal and safe direction. The university, other art institutions and those in power in the art field must set an example in that silence is unacceptable in such cases, and tacit acceptance will not be continued', says Sara Koiranen, TaiYo’s chairperson.
It is particularly sad that the case that has now come to light is by no means the first of its kind. The student union believes that persons and institutions in positions of power in the arts sector have a responsibility to listen sensitively to younger people, students and everyone in a more fragile position about what kind of signals are coming from within the institution and from the field, and how things stand in terms of equity and equality. The institutions in this area have a duty not only to intervene, but also to act proactively and preventively.
"It must be possible to intervene in such "public secrets" within the field and the university at a much earlier stage. The arts sector increasingly needs to build a culture where students and other vulnerable people can trust that harassment and inappropriate behaviour will be addressed. It must be possible to raise problems without fear of consequences. The small size of the fields of art makes it difficult to bring things to light, which is why special care must be taken to ensure that misconduct is addressed sensitively and that the threshold for confidential discussion and seeking help is lowered," Koiranen says.
The University of the Arts Student Union (TaiYo) wishes to emphasise that it can always be turned to in various problem situations that somehow touch on art studies or the student's position in the art field. The Student Union offers help in how matters can be handled and with whom and how they can be taken forward if desired.
More information:
Sara Koiranen, chairperson of the University of the Arts Student Union (TaiYo)
taiyo-pj@uniarts.fi, +358405093363
English (UK) 
Suomi 
Svenska