Conduct Resources

Why is it important to understand what misconduct looks like?

Our dignity principles set out our expectations of how we behave as a community and inform our approach to taking appropriate action when these expectations are not met. Our dignity principles state that we treat everyone with respect, we do not tolerate harmful behaviours such as discrimination, harassment, bullying, sexual misconduct, relationship abuse or violence, and that we keep our campus and community safe. Importantly, our fifth principle is that "we" means all of us, students and staff alike.

The We Act programme supports students to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to intervene in response to harmful behaviours, so that we are all able to uphold our dignity principles.

In order to intervene successfully, bystanders need to:

1. Notice the behaviour
2. Interpret the behaviour as harmful
3. Feel responsible for addressing the behaviour
4. Take action in the form of a safe and effective intervention

If we do not understand what harmful behaviours look like (including specific forms such as misogyny, antisemitism, and transphobia) then we may struggle to interpret behaviour we witness as harmful. If we do not interpret the behaviour as harmful, it is unlikely that we will intervene to uphold our dignity principles.

What does harmful behaviour look like?

The following resources are not intended to be exhaustive, but offer a place to start learning about different forms of harmful behaviour.

• Report + Support's 'Discrimination 101' video introduces what discrimination is, and the forms it can take.
• Report + Support's 'What is Stalking and/or Harassment'? defines and provides examples of stalking and harassment, including online stalking.
• Report + Support's 'What is Bullying?' explains the forms bullying can take and provides key examples.
• Report + Support's 'What is Sexual Misconduct?' covers the forms of sexual misconduct, with key examples.
• Report + Support's 'What is Relationship Abuse?' introduces the forms of relationship abuse, with information on controlling behaviour, coercive behaviour, stalking, and "honour"-based abuse, alongside examples.