This kind of abuse can happen in any hierarchical organization. It happens anywhere there are people: churches, schools, workplaces, athletic organizations, charities, etc. No organization is immune. The best you can hope for is better processes of accountability to protect people.

I wish I still had your adorable naivete. Your office mates be fuckin’. You might not know. But there’s some fucking going down.

People who go into PhD programs expecting otherwise ought to know better.