Harassment and bullying
Harassment and bullying can take many forms; sometimes it’s very obvious and other times it might be more subtle. People also have different tolerances as to what behaviours they can put up with. But what matters is how you feel. If you feel someone’s behaviour towards you is threatening or harassing in any form - you don’t have to put up with it or deal with it on your own.
Harassment is defined by the law as ‘unwanted conduct’, intended to violate another person’s dignity, or create an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that person.
Bullying is defined as offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour which intentionally or unintentionally undermines, humiliates, slanders or injures another person.
Harrassment and bullying may occur in person or online. Any form of bullying which takes place online is cyber bullying. Most social media platforms have a reporting tool which you can use if you are being harrassed or bullied.
If you are experiencing any form of bullying or harassment - and feel comfortable to do so - then let the person know, say how you feel, ask them to stop and keep a record of anything that you do.
If you are unsure how to approach them or don’t feel comfortable then you can talk to someone else who can help. If the person who you are having difficulties with is on your course, you can talk to your school’s Student Support Officer or your Personal Tutor.
If you don’t want to talk to your school, or the person is someone you live with or a former partner, you can have a confidential chat with LUU Advice and we can help to stop what is happening. We can help you speak to the Police for advice (without having to make a formal statement if you don’t want to), or make a complaint to the University if they are another student or member of staff. This would be done using the University’s dignity and mutual respect policy (see section 9 on how to proceed).