Your safety and wellbeing are top priorities for the University and the College. We want you to be free to study, work and live without fear of harassment or sexual misconduct. The University of Cambridge has a webpage which brings together everything students need to know about how the University prevents and responds to harassment and sexual misconduct: https://www.studentsupport.cam.ac.uk/harassment-and-sexual-misconduct
Bullying is any behaviour which makes someone feel intimidated, humiliated or offended, whether or not it is intended to do so. Harassment is bullying related to: sex or gender, age, disability, race, religion, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership or pregnancy and maternity. Sexual harassment includes any unwanted sexual comments or jokes as well as unwanted physical contact.
- What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is any form of unwanted verbal, non-verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature, or with a sexual element. It is especially serious if continued after it has been made clear that the behaviour is unwanted. Sexual harassment includes, but is not limited to: unwelcome comments, innuendo, gestures or contact; unwelcome display of body or images; stalking or following; and conduct verging on criminal sexual assault. Sexual harassment may be of individuals or groups, by individuals or groups or by incitement of others.
Sexual harassment is not your fault. Whatever your role within the University and College, you do not have to put up with harassment. No-one, whatever their role within the University or College, has the right to harass others.
- What is racial harassment?
Racial harassment is an incident or a series of incidents intended or likely to intimidate, offend or harm an individual or group because of their ethnic origin, colour, race, religion or nationality. Racial harassment may be overt, such as physical attacks and insults, or more nuanced and covert. People may find that they are being excluded or ignored. At times, racial harassment comes under the cover of ‘banter’. Apparently small acts or comments may build up over time to become increasingly hurtful. Unconscious bias may cause people to speak or act in a racist way, without them necessarily realising it.
Racial harassment harms mental health, affects people’s studies, and damages careers. Research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (October 2019) shows that much racial harassment in Universities goes unreported and is unaddressed. Newnham believes that no one should ever be subjected to racial harassment in any setting, and that we must take steps to recognise and tackle harassment.
- Support if you have been sexually or racially harassed or assaulted
If you have been sexually or racially harassed or assaulted, or want to report witnessing sexual or racial harassment or assault you can choose to
- talk to an advisor
- seek emotional support
- report harassment to the College and University
- report harassment anonymously
- report an assault or a hate crime to the police
It is your choice which of these you do. Talking to an advisor does not commit you to doing anything else. If you do not want to make a formal complaint, it is still worthwhile reporting the harassment anonymously, to give the College and/or University an understanding of the scale and nature of the problem.
All students can seek support or advice from
- our College Harassment Advisors:
- Dr Kate Fleet, Postgraduate Tutor
- Rev Dr Arabella Milbank Robinson, College Chaplain
- Professor Helen Bao, College Tutor
- Julie Barker, the College Nurse
- Sineidin O'Reilly-Williams, the College Wellbeing Advisor
- the Senior Tutor, Dr Sheila Watts
- the College BME Advisor, Professor Manali Desai
- your Tutor
- a welfare officer of the JCR or MCR
- a BME officer of the JCR or MCR
- a BME officer at the Student Union
- the University's Sexual Assault and Harassment Advisor
- the University Counselling Service
To contact any of the College advisors, please send an email indicating that you would like to have a discussion on a sensitive topic, and they can arrange a convenient time to meet you.