The University of Sheffield
Harassment Website

What can I do about it?

If you believe you are being subjected to harassment or bullying of any form, you do not have to feel it is your fault and you do not have to tolerate it. Any student who suffers from harassment or bullying from any individual or group throughout their student experience will have the support of the University in seeking to ensure that the harassment or bullying ceases. There are various ways in which an individual can deal with harassment, ranging from asking the person to stop to taking up a formal complaint.

If at all possible you should make it clear to the person causing the offence that such behaviour is unacceptable to you. In many cases such an approach is successful and the harassment ceases. In some cases, the person against whom you have a complaint may be unaware that his/her behaviour is unacceptable or objectionable, or it may happen that his/her words or actions have been misinterpreted. In such cases the misinterpretation needs to be cleared up quickly.

You may wish to seek help or advice from a trusted friend or from someone in authority whom you feel able to talk to and who may also accompany you to any meetings.

If you feel unable to speak to the person concerned, or it has no effect, this does not imply that you consent to the harassment nor will it prejudice any complaint you may bring. It is however important to begin to keep a note of the details and dates of any relevant incidents which distress you and the effect they have had on you.

You must remember that you are not alone and there are people and services in the University who are here to support you. By talking to someone about what you are experiencing and how you are feeling you will feel less alone and more able to deal with the situation.

pencil

You may wish to contact the following people or services for help and support:

These services and individuals will be able to provide you with advice on the options available to you. They will talk to about the informal approaches you may wish to take in relation to the situation and they may be able to assist you if you decide to make a formal complaint.