UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN has launched an investigation into claims that a group of male students shared explicit images of female students they had slept with on social media.

The College Tribune student newspaper reported earlier this week that as many as 200 students have been active in a private Facebook group chat used to share stories about and rate intimate photos of young women.

A spokesperson for UCD confirmed it is investigating the alleged behaviour.

“The university expects each and every one of its students to respect the dignity of all others at all times and in all circumstances,” they said.

The spokesperson added that breaches of the student code may result in sanctions up to and including expulsion from the university.

Lad culture

The controversy comes after another group of UCD students were criticised last year for objectifying women in a male-only Facebook group called ”Girls I’d shift if I were tipsy”.

One of its members was the current president of the university’s SU, Marcus O’Halloran, who apologised for his involvement shortly before he was elected to the position.

“This group is not representative of my opinions on women’s rights or gender equality,” he said at the time.

“There is a ‘lad’ culture prevalent across UCD and, as president, I would like to run a sexual harassment awareness campaign to combat catcalling and the objectification of women,” he added.

A spokesperson for UCDSU told TheJournal.ie today that it will fully support college authorities investigating the allegations of revenge porn.

“We are taking this matter very seriously,” they said.

The spokesperson said UCDSU has run a campus-wide campaign promoting sexual consent since the beginning of the academic year.

The union organised a “slutwalk” against rape culture last semester and is also facilitating consent workshops for students this semester.