Miss Sasher Robinson

Flat 1 Coronation Court

Surbiton Crescent
Kingston Upon Thames
Surrey
KT1 2JS
Student ID: BRO10304315

28th January 2022

Formal Complaint: Athanasia Batziou

To whom it may concern (Gauti Sigthorsson)

Subsequent to our zoom conversation on Tuesday the 24th of January 2022, I wish to make a formal
complaint about the treatment I have received from lecturer Athanasia Batziou.

In my first year of university, I was made to feel extremely uncomfortable by Ms Batziou. My

willingness to participate in class discussion was often met with consistent rejection. I ignored it as
the treatment was so insidious there was no way to prove it was happening.

This year (3rd year) she is now teaching the module International Challenges and the Media. On my
return to university, our first interaction was nothing short of a disappointment.

On the 18th of January 2022, as I entered the class there was no greeting. She instantly asked me to
wear a mask. I said no as I am exempt. She then told me to sit near a window, I replied, “I would
rather not” as it was very cold, so cold that we all sat with our coats and scarves on for the duration
of the lecture which was 3 hours. I have also been sick for over 3 months. She then asked if I had
tested to which I responded that I had indeed tested because I work for the nhs and we test twice a
week and my son had covid for the second time the week previous, so we were both required as per
government guidelines to quarantine and test before we were able to go about our lives as normal.
She asked the question again as if to suggest that I was lying. Bare in mind that I do not have to
share any of this information with her, but I, unlike Ms Batziou have a bit of foresight and assumed
she may be anxious so I changed seats, and sat behind a screen.

During the class I took out my phone to sign into moodle. She spoke to me like I was a child in
primary school, “you’re on your phone?” she said to which I responded that I was not being rude, I
simply use my phone for everything, and that I am using moodle. I did not need to respond at all as I
am 42 and I can do as I please. May I add that no other lecturer has ever behaved in this manner and
they know phones are practically laptops and we also use them for photo journalism etc.

The following week Ms Batziou sent and email informing us that we were to be in another building. I
will forward that email to you. I am convinced that she deliberately chose this room to have more of
a reason to discriminate and bully me.

Ms Batziou was half an hour late to the lecture. Upon arrival, she told me again to wear a mask
because there was no ventilation in this room. I responded, explaining that we went through this last
week and that this is the second time she is doing this and that I am going to make a formal
complaint. She said under her breathe that I could do that. I was very angry about this so I left the
room. In my doing so, she said “bye” in a very sarcastic manner in front of all the student. In other
words, good riddance.
Ms Batziou is a passive aggressive bully and for whatever reason I am her target. She has also
discriminated against me as a person with a disability that you cannot see and her actions have been
unprofessional.

Based on my experience with Ms Batziou, she should not be teaching. Her people skills are
horrendous and I wish to make sure that no one else is made to feel like this.

Her actions have caused me embarrassment and anxiety and it has affected my last year at
university. I do not feel comfortable returning to lectures because of her actions which
unprofessional.

In closing, I wish to add that I am fully vaccinated and I believe that it helped me not to contract
covid for a second time from my son. My safety and that of others especially as a NHS worker is of
the uttermost importance. I do not wear a mask at work which happens to be one of the most
vulnerable places to work during a pandemic and my “superior” has been extremely accommodating
and supportive.

Please feel free to contact me for any further questions.

Yours Sincerely

Miss Sasher Robinson