Are there bullies in university

Bullying at University Getting advice and support Estimated read: 7 minutes Going to university is a big deal and can be exciting as well as nerve-racking. Key points: Experiencing bullying can cause many emotions and feelings.

How a person responds to the bullying is often not a reflection of how they feel inside and some of these emotions can stay with them for the rest of their life You may want to speak to someone at the university informally first, this could be your campus counsellor, personal tutor, student union representative, harassment adviser or any member of staff you feel comfortable with If you are being bullied or intimidated, the university is obligated to safeguard your interests so that you can learn and enjoy your time in a safe, respectful environment.

Types of bullying Although there is no legal definition, bullying is a repetitive behaviour which is intended to hurt someone either emotionally or physically, and is often aimed at certain people because of their race , religion, gender or sexual orientation or any other aspect such as appearance or disability.

Bullying can take many forms including: Social and emotional - This can include excluding someone out on purpose, encouraging others not to be friends with them, spreading rumours and gossip, humiliating someone in front of others, making someone the butt of their jokes constantly.

Bullying vs banter It can be confusing for someone to try and work out whether the name calling is banter or bullying. Banter becomes bullying when it is: Intended to insult and humiliate the other person If it becomes regular and persistent Even after they have asked someone to stop, it continues How it makes you feel Experiencing bullying can cause many emotions and feelings.

Getting help It is important to seek help and support if you are experiencing any form of bullying. Further resources It may help to chat to other parents on our forums to find out how they are dealing with this issue within their family life.

This page was updated on September Donate now For support call our confidential helpline on or email us at askus familylives. Your opinion matters, please share your views on our website by filling in our survey.

Donate to us and please help us continue our vital work. Come and chat to others in our bullying forum. Report bullying to the University Provide details of each bullying incident. If the bullying allegation is against a student, report it to the relevant Dean. The matter will be dealt with under the Student Misconduct Rule. If the bullying allegation is against a staff member, report it to their supervisor or relevant Dean.

The matter will be dealt with under the Bullying Prevention Policy. Ensure that you stay informed about the progress of your report. Seek regular updates from the Dean via email. Mobile options: Return to standard site Back to Top. Bullying is defined as repeated patterns of negative behaviour, by a single person or group, that results in pressure, provocation or intimidation of the victim causing psychological harm.

Smart bullies are adept at working around workplace policies. Instead, they draw upon a full arsenal of uncivilised behaviours such as acts of rudeness, demeaning comments and creating or spreading gossip and rumours. Smart bullies use micro politics to create allies.

They infiltrate committee structures and decisions to camouflage and insulate themselves as the real bully or instigator. Their behaviour is tolerated and often chalked up to expressions of academic freedom. Incivility can stand alongside bullying, but is more insidious because it occurs in day-to-day interactions. Because these types of behaviours are part of most workplaces it makes incivility difficult to categorise and create policies to prevent and combat. Read more: Half of our unis don't have bullying policies for students.

This is what they need to protect them. Victims of incivility seldom seek organisational assistance. The usual reason is they lack confidence in the process and outcome. They also should continue to build self-esteem, resiliency , social skills and assertiveness skills so their kids can deal effectively with bullying issues in college and later in the workforce.

Being confident and resilient is half the battle when it comes to standing up bullying. Research indicates that cyberbullying is increasing at the college level. And much of the cyberbullying that college kids experience revolves around relationship issues. For example, many times cyberbullying encompasses gossip and rumors , slut-shaming and sexual bullying. Often mean girls will engage in this behavior as a way to climb to the social ladder or to intimidate other girls. They also may use cyberbullying to stake their claim on boys they are interested in.

Meanwhile, boys may cyberbully other boys as a way of humiliating them and exerting their own dominance. Or, they may use cyberbullying to get revenge after being dumped.

In fact, if students engage in sexting this puts them at greater risk for cyberbullying or slut-shaming when a relationship ends. Unlike bullying in middle school and high school, many college students must face bullying without the support of family and friends nearby.

They are living on campus miles from home. College students also must deal with the possibility of hazing , which still occurs on some college campuses. While most people assume only fraternities and sororities participate in hazing, just about any group could have hazing rituals including sports teams and other campus groups. Be sure to talk to your child about the dangers of hazing and how to respond to hazing rituals. The consequences of bullying are high for anyone who is impacted.

But research indicates that college students can feel even more alone and isolated especially if they are underclassmen at the university. Every college student needs a circle of support, but bullied college students are in even greater need of support. If your child is being bullied at college, take steps to reduce the feelings of loneliness and isolation.

For instance, visit your student if you can.