Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

Scope:

Effective Date: Feb 2016

Responsible Dept: Registry

Equality Analysis Undertaken:

Last updated:

Next review date: May 2017

Associated links & web pages:

QA Reference:

Student Harassment and Bullying Policy and Procedure 1.

Application and Scope

1.1 The University aims to take all reasonable steps to provide a safe, secure and healthy environment that is conducive to learning and working and is inclusive of the needs of all students and staff. 1.2 This policy applies to all current students of the University and is intended primarily to address allegation(s) of misconduct by one student against another. It is not limited to misconduct on university premises. For student on staff incidents staff can seek support from the Dignity and Respect Network. 1.3 Everyone in the York St John community is expected to:  Act with courtesy and respect in all situations – with peers, colleagues and the local community;  Contribute to building a friendly community that is free from harassment and discrimination and where everyone feels safe and respected;  Actively engage in University life and challenge exclusion and prejudice in all forms;  Take responsibility for resolving problems and seek support when needed and treat others with dignity and respect. 1.4 The terms bullying and harassment are often used interchangeably. In general they can be defined as behaviour directed towards an individual, that is unwelcome, uninvited and causes a detrimental effect. Bullying and harassment can occur for many reasons. However, there is additional protection within law for people who experience harassment due to particular personal characteristics. 1.5 The University will normally only pursue an allegation made by a student in his or her own right, and not where a third party is making a claim on the student’s behalf. 1.6 Should a member of staff become aware of an allegation that bullying or harassment is taking place they would be expected to intervene informally to support the student being harassed or bullied. The member of staff would be expected to bring this policy and related resources to the attention of the student. Staff members can seek advice from a Harassment Adviser on how best to proceed.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

2.

General Principles

2.1 The University does not tolerate bullying and harassment and bullying of any kind. If deemed necessary, complaints will be referred to the student disciplinary procedures, which can result in disciplinary action (including expulsion). The police may be asked to investigate accusations of hate crime and harassment. 2.2 Wherever possible, allegations of harassment or bullying should be resolved informally without recourse to formal procedures. There are two informal stages to this procedure – Informal Level One and Informal Level Two (see Section 3). 2.3 There may be occasions when it is not appropriate or possible for an allegation of harassment to be resolved through the informal stages (e.g. allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault). In such cases the University’s Registrar will advise on whether to refer the case for consideration under the formal student disciplinary procedures. Where a crime is alleged to have been committed, the Code of Discipline and disciplinary procedures shall apply. 2.4 Any action taken under this procedure will be taken promptly, unless there is a good reason for delay. Where there is delay, the reason for this will be fully explained to the individual who has made the complaint. 2.5 There will be no assumption of guilt made in any complaint of harassment or bullying until it has been proven. 2.6 It is expected that individuals will report the harassment or bullying to one staff member of the University only and will not raise the same complaint with a number of staff members simultaneously. 2.7 It is acknowledged that counter-allegations of bullying or harassment sometimes arise when an initial allegation is made. In the event that an allegation gives rise to counterallegations, these will usually be investigated at the same time as the original allegation. 2.8 If, on investigation, the complaint of harassment or bullying is found to be vexatious, the individual making the complaint may be subject to disciplinary procedures. 2.9 All parties involved in this process will have the right to be accompanied at any meetings by a supporter, e.g. Student Union representative. 2.10 The University is committed to ensuring a fair process. If a member of staff becomes aware of a student’s specific needs which require reasonable adjustments then they are asked to notify relevant persons as soon as possible. 2.11 All individuals involved in these procedures must ensure that they maintain the confidentiality of the process at all times, within and outside the University.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

2.12 It is recognised that being subject to harassment or bullying, being accused of harassment or being involved in a harassment investigation can be a stressful experience for individuals. Students are encouraged to access the support available. 3. Process There are three stages to this process:

Informal Level One Talk to the person causing you upset if safe to do so Ask them to stop Let them know their behaviour is unacceptable Collate examples of behaviour Speak to others for help Resources in Appendices A & B may help

Informal Level Two Report to an Harassment Adviser who will investigate the case The Harassment Adviser will: Speak to each party to find solution Offer facilitated meetings and/or mediation Resources in Appendices A & B may help

Formal Level Three Registrar will review the case and decide if the Code of discipline and disciplinary procedures apply Follow disciplinary procedures These provide guidance on when a matter should be reported to the police.

3.1 Informal Level One 3.1.1 The individual affected should try to resolve the matter through the Informal Level One process and, in the first instance, communicate directly to the offender if it is safe to do so. References and resources for these purposes are available at Appendix A and B. The purpose of any informal procedures is to aim to resolve the issue whilst giving the individual who is the subject of an allegation an opportunity to cease any behaviour which causes distress. In many cases an informal approach may be more effective in putting a stop to bullying or harassment and facilitating a continued study/social relationship than invoking formal procedures. 3.1.2 The university understands that it can be challenging for victims of bullying or harassment to speak directly to the perpetrator and can provide support to enable individuals to do this. If however the individual does not feel comfortable in confronting the situation, they are encouraged to seek support and document their experiences. (See Appendix B Resources for Students) 3.1.3 Talk or write to the offender to inform them of the unacceptable nature of their behaviour and request that they stop. Cessation of the behaviour and an apology (if there has been any unacceptable behaviour) may be sufficient to bring the matter to a close. 3.1.4 If the behaviour continues, the individual should collate as much information as they can about the harassment or bullying incidents. The individual should keep any evidence of the bullying / harassment e.g. offensive messages/ texts/ videos or other examples and try to keep a written diary of events. 3

Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

3.2 Informal Level Two If the individual affected has not been able to, or it has not been appropriate to attempt to resolve the situation through the Informal Level One process, then they can report the harassment or bullying to a Harassment Adviser [email protected]. 3.2.1 Once the individual affected has brought the alleged harassment or bullying to the attention of a Harassment Adviser, the Adviser will investigate the matter in order to establish whether any harassment or bullying has taken place and to seek a resolution to the situation. 3.2.2 The Harassment Adviser will adopt a non-judgemental educative approach to the case. They may facilitate non-adversarial discussions with the aim of resolving the case. The option of mediation may also be explored. There may be situations when the Harassment Adviser believes the case that the matter should be referred directly to Formal Level Three. Where this applies, the Harassment Adviser will consult the Student Casework Manager and/or the Registrar for a decision on the matter. 3.2.3 Following an outcome during Informal Level Two, which is accepted by all parties, the matter will be considered resolved. Where appropriate, the Harassment Adviser will obtain a written agreement from both parties. 3.2.4 If there has been no accepted resolution via the informal procedure, before proceeding to the formal procedure, the Harassment Adviser will liaise with the Student Casework Manager in Registry and, where equality issues have been raised, the Equality and Diversity Adviser, to ensure that all options for resolution have been considered and appropriate action to seek resolution have been taken. There are two likely outcomes to this meeting:  Insufficient grounds to proceed to the University disciplinary procedure and the affected individual is asked to reconsider informal options.  Proceed to the formal procedure. 3.3 Formal Level Three Where the first two levels have been exhausted, or where it is inappropriate to attempt informal resolution, and the situation remains unresolved the matter will be referred to the Registrar to decide whether it is to be considered under the University’s Student disciplinary procedure. 4. Recording For the purposes of monitoring the application of this procedure, the Harassment Adviser shall keep records including the number of interventions and the outcomes; personal data will not be held. Cases referred to the disciplinary procedure are recorded in the manner applicable to that procedure.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

Appendix A – Definitions The terms bullying and harassment are often used interchangeably. In general they can be defined as behaviour directed towards an individual, that is unwelcome, uninvited and causes a detrimental effect. Bullying and harassment can occur for many reasons. However, there is additional protection within law for people who experience harassment due to particular personal characteristics. Bullying There is no legal definition of bullying but bullying includes the following characteristics:   

Bullying is a form of aggressive behaviour where the perpetrator intends to inflict harm or distress on the victim Bullying is aggressive behaviour that is experienced repeatedly over time. A single conflict, argument or other isolated act of aggression is not deemed to be bullying Incidences of bullying involve a power imbalance between the perpetrator and the victim, where the perpetrator is deemed to be more powerful than the victim. Such a power imbalance can include differences in physical strength, popularity or ability.

Bullying and harassment can take a number of different forms and can include:    



Physical bullying; such as hitting, kicking, physical fights and threats of physical violence Verbal bullying; such as name calling and using threatening language Psychological/ Emotional bullying; such as excluding people from conversations and/ or activities, hostile looks and stares, rumour spreading and ignoring people Cyberbullying; such as sending nasty or hostile text messages, posting nasty/ embarrassing/sexually explicit or humiliating messages, images or videos on social media Humiliating initiation rites, hazing

Harassment Harassment is behaviour that has the purpose or the effect of offending, hurting, degrading or intimidating a person or persons or violating dignity. It may be a single event, sporadic events or a continuing process. There is additional protection within the Equality Act 2010 for persons who experience harassment related to any of the ‘protected characteristics’ of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex (gender) or sexual orientation. Sexual harassment is unwanted behaviour of a sexual nature in relation to these characteristics. The law also covers harassment by association with an individual or individuals with a protected characteristic or by perception, for example, where an individual is harassed because they are friends with someone who is lesbian or gay or because they are perceived to be lesbian or gay.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

Hate Crime A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is transgender or perceived to be transgender. An act which is not an offence may be treated as a hate incident. Any allegation of hate crime is likely to invoke the disciplinary procedures.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

Appendix B – Resources for Students What to do if you are at risk now If you are on the York St John University campus or accommodation: call Security 01904 876444 and let them know you are worried for your safety. -

Give Security your telephone number Tell them where you are If it’s safe, stay on the phone

Security will call the police for you if that is appropriate. If you are off campus, and fearful for your immediate safety: ring 999 and ask for the police. If the harasser is physically near you, having the police come will put you out of harm's way. Always call the police if you are feeling endangered; that's what they're there for. If possible try and take yourself to a safe place. -

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Go somewhere familiar to you – your flat, a friend’s house or a place you know well If that is not possible it is usually better to be amongst people - so head for a shopping centre or sit in a busy café or on campus go to the library, Holgate Student Centre or the Students’ Union Tell someone there you are worried and ask them to keep an eye on you.

What is harassment and bullying? Bullying & Harassment The terms bullying and harassment are often used interchangeably. In general they can be defined as behaviour directed towards an individual, that is unwelcome, uninvited and causes a detrimental effect. See the York St John University Harassment and Bullying policy Appendix A for definitions. Bullying and harassment can take a number of different forms and can include:    

Physical bullying; such as hitting, kicking, physical fights and threats of physical violence Verbal bullying; such as name calling and using threatening language Psychological/ Emotional bullying; such as excluding people from conversations and/ or activities, hostile looks and stares, rumour spreading and ignoring people Cyberbullying; such as sending nasty or hostile text messages, posting nasty/ embarrassing/sexually explicit or humiliating messages, images or videos on social media.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

It is important to remember that bullying is a repeated behaviour that victims experience repeatedly and over time. A one off fight or falling out is not bullying, this is more akin to conflict. Conflict is quite common in relationships, and common causes of conflict at university include; living with others in shared accommodation, working with others on group projects and general fallings out in friendship groups. You might find the following useful:  

The York St John University Student Union ‘Living with Housemates Guide’ Student Services ‘Living with Housemates’ factsheet

There is additional protection within the Equality Act 2010 for persons who experience harassment related to any of the ‘protected characteristics’ of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex (gender) or sexual orientation. The law also covers harassment by association with an individual(s) with a protected characteristic or by perception, for example, where an individual is harassed because they are friends with someone who is lesbian or gay or because they are perceived to be lesbian or gay. Sexual Harassment Sexual harassment is defined as unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment is when someone behaves in a way which makes you feel distressed, intimidated or offended and the behaviour is of a sexual nature. Sexual harassment is a form of discrimination under the Equality Act 2010. Sexual harassment is not okay and has no place in the University community as this York St John video makes clear ‘It’s not okay’ video Sexual harassment includes many things;         

Unwanted pressure for sexual favours Unwanted deliberate touching Unwanted sexual looks or gestures Unwanted letters, texts, telephone calls, or materials of a sexual nature Displaying pictures, photos or drawings of a sexual nature Unwanted sexual teasing, jokes, questions, comments, wold whistling or cat calls Sexual comments about a person's clothing, anatomy, or looks Telling lies or spreading rumours about a person's personal sex life Actual or attempted rape or sexual assault.

Hate Crime A hate crime is any criminal offence which is perceived by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by hostility or prejudice based on a person's race or perceived race; religion or perceived religion; sexual orientation or perceived sexual orientation; disability or perceived disability and any crime motivated by hostility or prejudice against a person who is trans or perceived to be trans. An act which is not an offence may be treated as a hate incident. For more information about hate crime reporting and support visit the University hate crime webpages 8

Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

What to do if you’re being bullied or harassed If you feel you are being bullied or harassed, the most important thing is that you tell someone. It is really important that you talk to someone so you can be supported and helped to decide what the next steps might be. It is really important that you report incidents so that the authorities have a full picture of the number and type of incidents that occur. How to report if you’re being bullied or harassed If you are being bullied or harassed by another York St John student, you can contact one of our Harassment Advisors [email protected] If you are being, or have recently been, bullied/harassed by a member of the public please report this to North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you are fearful about your safety call 101 so an incident can be logged on the Police database. The police can put a ‘flag’ on your telephone number so if you called again they would know it is linked to a previous incident which helps emphasise the seriousness of any subsequent calls. If you think you are the victim of a hate crime and want to report this contact ‘Stop Hate UK’ online or by telephone 0800 138 1625, or call North Yorkshire Police on 101. If you have been raped or sexually assaulted please contact Bridge House on 01904 669 339. Bridge House is a Sexual Assault Referral Centre providing a dedicated service for men or women who have been raped or sexually assaulted recently or in the past. They offer a safe and welcoming environment which focuses on your individual needs offering emotional and practical support. They can also store evidence. As it is your choice to report your crime to the police Bridge House staff will be able to explore this option and what it means with you so you are able to make an informed choice. You will not be pressured to report to the police. What support is available? Sources of Support Tell your friends and family what's going on. Going through this experience alone can be dangerous, both physically and emotionally. It is common for victims of bullying and harassment to blame themselves so it is important to find people who are on your side. They will likely be more compassionate to you, help you to stop blaming yourself and help you to see that it is the behaviour of the perpetrator who is to blame. Sometimes it can be enough just to talk to someone who validates that the situation you have been subjected to is terrible. Keep people in the loop about where you are on a daily basis so they'll be aware if something out of the ordinary happens Be careful though as some people may want to solve the situation and confront the perpetrator for you and this could increase the conflict. Make sure you are clear to the other person what you want from them. 9

Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

Professional Support at York St John University If you feel you are being bullied or harassed and want to talk to someone about what options are available to you please contact either:   

Harassment Advisors [email protected] Your tutor or Head of School A Welfare Advisor on 01904 876477 or email [email protected] or visit the Student Advice Desk in the Holgate Student Centre

If you would rather speak to someone in the Students’ Union please speak to your Vice President Welfare and Diversity at the Student Union [email protected] or call in to the Student Union building If your experiences are beginning to affect your studies, or the bully is on your course, you might find it helpful to first talk to your academic tutor or Head of School. Professional Support outside the university 



 

IDAS is a charity that provides comprehensive support services to all those experiencing or affected by domestic abuse and sexual violence. Services include refuge accommodation, outreach support and access to a free, confidential helpline - 03000 110 110 or you can email - [email protected] If you have been raped or sexually assaulted please contact Bridge House on 01904 669 339. Bridge House is a Sexual Assault Referral Centre providing a dedicated service for men or women who have been raped or sexually assaulted recently or in the past. They offer a safe and welcoming environment and provide emotional and practical support The Bullying UK helpline is a useful support organisation, you can ring them on 0808 800 2222, or find advice and resources via Twitter @bullyinguk Helplines – it can be helpful to speak to someone on an anonymous basis and the following helplines allow you to do this o Samaritans – 116 123 [email protected] o Nightline – 01904 323735, [email protected] 8pm - 8am during term time

Practical tips for managing the situation Everyone is different and the strategies below may not feel appropriate or work for everyone. Please consider all of the strategies below and use the ones that feel right for you. 1. If you are feeling physically threatened, phone the police and find a safe space See the ‘What to do if you are at risk now’ section at the start of this document

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

2. Talk to someone See the ‘What support is available’ section above 3. Tell the bully/ perpetrator their behaviour is not okay. Depending on the nature of the incident(s) it will not always be appropriate for you to contact the perpetrator e.g. sexual assault, domestic violence. In these cases it is important that you report these incidents to others. For less severe incidents there are things you can do. Remember it is not okay to harass or bully anyone. The person doing this needs to be told that their behaviour is wrong. There are a number of ways you can do this: If it is safe to do so speak to the person involved and make it clear that you consider their behaviour harassment or bullying. It might be hard to believe, but it's possible the person bullying or harassing you doesn't realise his or her behaviour is bothering you this much. It might even be the harasser thinks his or her behaviour is actually welcome. Sometimes just telling the person outright, "I consider this to be bullying/harassment" can prompt an embarrassing wake-up call and they may apologise for their behaviour and stop it. It is important to be assertive when doing this: -

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Do not apologise for calling out their behaviour for what it is - you're not the one who has done something wrong Make it absolutely clear that you consider this to be bullying or harassment, or else the person might not get the message Focus on naming the behaviour not the person. For example, say, “Do not wolf whistle at me, that is harassment,” or “I don’t want you to touch me, that is sexual harassment.” If you feel you want to explain use the ‘I feel x when you do y please z’ equation to help articulate your message in a non- confrontational way, e.g. “I feel uncomfortable (x) when you touch me (y) please stop (z)”.

If you have trouble with face-to-face confrontation, or if you have no desire to actually see the person, you can write it in an email or a letter instead of talking in person. 4. Ignore the behaviour Bullies often need a reaction to reinforce their behaviour. Ignoring the behaviour can be a non-verbal way of communicating that a behaviour/ comment is unacceptable. It can be difficult when people are harassing/ bullying you, but try not to react, don’t respond and try to ignore the comments and turn around and walk away. If you are being bullied or harassed online – don’t respond, don’t comment or reply – this can only encourage the perpetrator as they believe they are upsetting you.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

A note on Cyberbullying/ Harassment If you are being bullied/ harassed online, there are some additional things you can do: -

Block/ unfriend the perpetrator Once you have captured them as evidence (e.g. taking screenshots of abusive messages) delete the messages/ images from your social media site.

Many Social Media sites have safety pages, where you can report many forms of inappropriate behaviour:   

Facebook: http://en-gb.facebook.com/help/contact/274459462613911 Twitter: https://support.twitter.com/articles/20169998?lang=en# Instagram: https://help.instagram.com/165828726894770/

If you are being bullied via text message or phone call, you can block the caller, or speak to your mobile phone provider. 5. Break off contact If you’ve tried talking to the person, or ignored their inappropriate behaviour and that doesn’t help, try to break off contact. Tell the person to stop contacting you. You do not need to get into a dialogue with them other than to say you are stopping contact because of their behaviour. You do not need to respond to their questions, threats, or guilt-tripping. Stop answering the person's calls, emails, and other messages. Delete the person from your phone and social media accounts and set up a block on that number if possible. At this point you've made your position clear, so if that person contacts you again he or she is explicitly going against the boundaries you've laid out. If this is the case seek support from others detailed above in the support section. 6. Collect evidence Keep records of the bad behaviour. If you continue getting harassed, keep a record of every incident that occurs. At this point the harasser's actions may be considered illegal, and if they continue you're going to need to get other people involved. You'll need evidence of the harassing behaviour to show others who can then help you. Keep all email, text, letters and social media correspondence you have received as this will be helpful in making a case. Write down an account of what has happened, noting the date and place of each incident (see template below). Keep the names of other people who have witnessed the bullying/harassing behaviour in case you need to ask them to verify your account of what occurred.

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

When

Where

(date and time)

(incident took place)

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What did they do (describe factually what happened)

What did you do Any evidence (describe factually what happened but don’t worry if you did nothing as responding can be hard)

Were there any witnesses? Have you kept the social media posts, texts etc Did you talk to anyone about the incident

If the bullying/ harassment occurs online, or via text/media message: o Take a screen shot of the image/ comment so you can capture the date and time of the incident o Don’t just delete straight away, it can be tempting to do this, but make sure you keep a record of this for evidence.

7. Look after yourself Once you have worked out who is on your side use them to help you remember you are okay. Being subjected to bullying or harassing behaviour is a very negative experience and finding other people to help provide positive experiences will help you realise that the situation is not your fault. If you have stopped doing the things you previously enjoyed because of the bullying or harassment ask yourself how you could start to do these things again. It is common for people to withdraw from social activities or from doing exercise if they do not feel safe, but these activities can be helpful to increase your resilience through this difficult time. Could you arrange to exercise with a friend or ask a friend to act as a chaperone on a night out – just until you feel safe again? In the same way reflect on any changes in your behaviour that don’t help you. For example if you begin to drink more alcohol to cope this can have a detrimental impact upon you as can isolating yourself by staying at home and missing classes. Pull together all of your possible support options, both people and resources, write them down and keep them close to you so you always feel you have support. If after trying to resolve the situation using the above strategies (if appropriate) you feel that you need to engage further support from the University then please contact a Harassment Advisor [email protected]

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Student Harassment & Bullying Policy January 2016

How to help a friend The most important thing to do if a friend tells you they are being harassed or bullied is to believe them. This simple step is so important because if you dismiss their concerns you leave them to manage their upset alone. It can be hard to know what to do when a friend tells you they are being bullied or harassed. Your first instinct may be to try and fix the problem but this isn’t always a good idea. Following ALDOER can help you best understand what your friend needs:      

Ask. Asking how a person feels is always likely to be helpful even if they don’t immediately talk to you, and they may feel relieved to talk Listen. Take what your friend says seriously, and try to understand their perspective of the situation. Your friend may be able to tell you what they need and who might help Discuss. Try to discover what might make a difference without imposing your solutions on the situation Offer practical help towards problem solving - e.g. if you’re worried about missing a deadline let us both go and speak to your tutor tomorrow Encourage. Try and get your friend to seek help and talk to someone they trust Refer. Do not take sole responsibility for the situation. Sensitively indicate that you are concerned enough to arrange for further help, even if it means breaking a confidence.

The aim is to help them manage the situation, to help them think through their options, and to allow them to make the decision that they think is best for them at this time. Support their decisions and make sure you do not take on responsibility for solving their situation. Try not to get involved or tackle the bully yourself, you risk only making the situation worse. Seek support for yourself if you feel you are taking too much on. You can do this by reaching out to your friends and family, contacting one of the University’s Harassment Advisors [email protected] or a Welfare Advisor [email protected] or visit the Student Advice Desk in the Holgate Student Centre

What to do if you have been told that you bully or harass people? How to reflect on your own behaviour If you are reading this because someone has pointed out they find your behaviour to be bullying or harassment you may be quite shocked and angry. Almost no-one would describe themselves as a bully or someone who enjoys harassing others. Consider this situation as a learning opportunity. You may think your behaviour was ‘just a bit of banter’, that you were just ‘joking’, or it was ‘a misunderstanding’ but if that was not how it was perceived by the other then continuing the offensive behaviour may get you into trouble. It’s important that you reflect upon the comments and try to amend your behaviour:

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1. It’s important to acknowledge the situation and think about what the person has said to you. 2. Try to put yourself in their situation. If they’re accusing you of saying something inappropriate, can you understand their perspective? If you find this difficult to do, try thinking about the following: a. Would you say that to a parent or other family member? b. Think about someone you care about, how would you feel if they have been spoken to/ or treated in that way? 3. Do not get angry with the person who has clearly expressed how they feel when faced by your behaviour. They have taken a brave and mature step in trying to address a situation that has upset them. It is important you respect this and try and discuss the issue in a mature way. It may be that you did not intend for your behaviour to be harmful. If so it is important that you discuss this rationally. 4. Remember alcohol is not an excuse. You are always responsible for your behaviour and being encouraged to misbehave by a group, or claiming no responsibility because of being drunk is never an excuse. 5. Sometimes people simply do not like each other and do not get on but that is never an excuse for inappropriate behaviour. If you find yourself in that situation, try to avoid the person or resolve to treat them politely at all times. This does not mean you have to agree with them but respect that they, like you, are entitled to their point of view. Everyone makes mistakes but it important to learn from them, to recognise your impact upon others and to try and modify your behaviour. Being accused of being a bully or of harassment can be a difficult experience, and you may find it helpful to talk to someone to help you reflect upon the situation. Remember you can talk to:   

Friends and family A Welfare Advisor [email protected] or visit the Student Advice Desk in the Holgate Student Centre Your academic tutor or another member of academic staff.

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