University accused of ignoring reports staff had 'repeated affairs' with pupils Worcester University has been accused of presiding over a 'culture of exploitation' There are no laws to prevent university lecturers from having consensual relationships with their students A university has been accused of presiding over a “culture of exploitation” amid claims that lecturers are having numerous affairs with students. Worcester University’s senior management has “chosen to ignore” reports that some of its academic staff have had “repeated affairs” with students despite it being “discussed openly” on social media. The university's board of governors has been warned that investigations into “potential grooming and sexual misconduct” by lecturers have been hampered by weak policies on staff-student relationships.