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Advice > Harassment & bullying advice  

Advice

The Advice & Representation Centre  can give you free, independent and confidential information, advice and support on a range of academic and non-academic issues.

We have professional advisers and elected student representatives and the service is completely confidential, independent from the University and no issue is too big or too small for us to deal with.

The Students' Union is here to help you make the most of your time at Sussex so if there's something bugging you that you think is likely to be affecting other students as well tell us about it by filling in our online form. 

Contents

► Harassment & bullying advice

This page outlines types of personal harassment and how to deal with them.

Types of personal harrassment

Sexual harassment is a form of sex discrimination and involves unwanted and unwelcome attention of a sexual nature. This may be physical or verbal or involve the denigration of an individual on sexual grounds or by sexual means. Some examples of sexual harassment are:

  • indecent assault
  • deliberate physical contact to which the individual has not consented or had the opportunity to object
  • offensive or derogatory language alluding to a person's private life or sexual behaviour or orientation by innuendo, jokes or remarks
  • provocative suggestions
  • pressing an individual to accept unwelcome invitations
  • the display of suggestive or pornographic material
  • unwelcome repeated telephone calls, letters or emails

Any unwelcome behaviour of a sexual nature which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment for the recipient may be regarded as sexual harassment. We have further information for survivors of sexual harrassment and violence.

Racial harassment is any behaviour, deliberate or otherwise, relating to race, colour, ethnic or national origin directed at an individual or group, which is found to be offensive or objectionable to the recipient and which creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. Some examples include:

  • physical attack
  • verbal abuse, threats, derogatory name-calling, racist insults and jokes
  • ridicule of an individual on racial or cultural grounds
  • exclusion from normal academic interactions or social events
  • unfair allocation of work and/or responsibilities
  • racist graffiti/insignia or display of racist material
  • inciting others to commit any of the above
     

Bullying

Bullying can be broadly defined as behaviour which consistently undermines another's confidence, reducing feelings of self-esteem and self-worth. Such behaviour may be deliberate, as in a planned campaign, or may arise out of the bully's own immaturity, lack of inter-personal skills and poor self-confidence. It is generally psychological, rarely though sometimes physical, and may also be exacerbated by the bully's own susceptibility and reaction to stress.

Bullying consists of the abuse of power and the regular use of inappropriate behaviours at the expense of another individual. Some examples of these behaviours include:

  • physical or verbal abuse, including threats
  • psychological intimidation, humiliation, excessive and/or unreasonable criticism
  • unjustifiable removal of areas of responsibility
  • ostracism (“sent to Coventry”)/exclusion
  • malicious lies
  • setting unreasonable and unrealistic goals/targets
  • “academic bullying”: i.e. asserting a position of intellectual superiority in an aggressive, abusive or offensive manner; threats of academic failure; public sarcasm and humiliation
     

Other forms of harassment

The following are further examples of specific types of harassment but, once again, should not be considered an exhaustive list:

  • homophobic harassment, i.e. harassment directed at homosexual persons or groups on the grounds of their sexual orientation (applying equally to homosexual men or women)
  • harassment in respect of a recipient’s disability or impairment
  • harassment in respect of a person's age 
  • repeated gibes in respect of personal traits or appearance, practical jokes or invasions of privacy, any or all of which may cause physical or psychological distress
     

Safety on campus

Campus Security Officers are on campus 24/7 and will escort staff and students anywhere on campus, and between campus and Falmer Station, after dark. Call 01273 678234 in advance to book a security escort, or if you have any questions. In an emergency, call 01273 873333 or 3333 from a campus landline.

The Union has free personal alarms for students, please contact the Welfare Officer on 01273 873354 or email welfare@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

Dealing with harrassment or bullying

You do not have to tolerate racial or sexual harassment. You can do something about it, and people are here to help you.

Taking it up with the person concerned

If at all possible, make it clear that his/her behaviour is unacceptable. You can do this by word of mouth or in writing. If you write, keep a copy of your letter, bearing in mind that this letter can be used in evidence by the other person.

Always keep detailed notes of any incidents that distress you, including information on the ways in which the incidents cause you to change the pattern of your work or social life. Keep a note of who witnessed the incidents.

If you don’t feel able to take it up with the person concerned, or if harassment continues, you can take further action.

Taking informal advice

You can take advice from various sources, including:

You can contact the Students' Union's Welfare Officer for advice and assistance - welfare@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

These discussions are private and confidential, and you can bring a friend with you if you want. The people listed may be able to make informal approaches to the person concerned to ensure that harassment is not repeated. The decision whether to go further will depend on you. Even where you are complaining about conduct that is actually criminal, no proceedings can take place without your wish and evidence, and it is for you to choose whether or not to give that evidence. (Remember, though, that if you write to someone it may be impossible to prevent that document being used in evidence.)

Campus-based groups & officers

The Students' Union supports several Liberation Groups which function in similar ways to societies to support and speak for particular groups of students. Any student who self-identifies as a member of that group is welcome to participate in their activities. The Liberation Groups meet regularly, contact them directly for more information;

Women's Group - womensgroup@ussu.sussex.ac.uk

LGBTQ Group - info@sussexlgbtq.com

The Students' Union also has elected Representative Officers who represent particular groups of students. We've got more about them and their contact details online.

Formal processes

You are strongly advised to take the informal route first, with the support of those suggested above. This may help you decide whether to make a formal complaint.

Formal complaints within the University are made in accordance with the University's complaints procedure. If you feel that you are being victimised for having made a complaint, then make an additional written complaint.

The formal disciplinary procedures for handling complaints against students are different from those for staff. If the complaint is substantiated the result can be anything from a formal warning to exclusion from the University (for a student) or dismissal (for a member of staff).

If someone else informs your personal tutor or Director of Studies that you are being harassed, you can expect your personal tutor or Director to check with you what action you wish to take, before dealing with the matter.

The police

Criminal conduct should be reported to the police. If that conduct has taken place in the University you may report it to the police yourself or use the University Security Service, as you prefer. If the person concerned is prosecuted, the University's formal disciplinary processes may be instigated whether or not he or she is found guilty.