My name is Kajsa Persson and I am currently a second-year law student. I have been working with the Students' Union as a Workshop Leader for the Active Bystander Programme since September 2021.
I was inspired to apply for the position of Workshop Leader after having attended the Active Bystander course last year.
I remember being impressed by efforts that UCL had taken to tackle problematic behaviours such as bullying and sexual harassment, and how such issues were dealt with in a way that felt real and interactive. I was impressed by the enthusiasm and professionalism shown by the Workshop Leaders, who were very dedicated to explaining various definitions and concepts to the participants. Thanks to their efforts, I will never forget what the 4 D’s stand for!
Certainly, the most interesting part of my role has been the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions with students from all kinds of academic disciplines. My favourite part of any workshop is when a student goes beyond the question asked and contributes in a way that pleasantly surprises me. For instance, some students in the past have asked for our questions to be modified or for our definitions of behaviours to be improved, sometimes even giving their own examples or resources for us to use. As a Workshop Leader, such contributions are always welcome as they demonstrate a real engagement with the contents presented in the workshop. These kinds of contributions also remind me of the strength that we have, as UCL students, to make positive changes in the community around us.
What has surprised me the most about the role is how difficult it can sometimes be to run a workshop via Zoom, with all the different functions available on the platform. Despite the occasional technical difficulties we experience, we have been able to successfully run the majority of our workshops remotely.
It is important to take part in the Active Bystander Programme, as I firmly believe that we can all contribute towards creating a safer and more supportive community at UCL.
Challenging poor behaviour and developing practical skills for intervention forms an important part in bringing about such positive changes. What you learn from the Active Bystander Programme is the knowledge you can take away for life, as these practical skills can be applied in any context and in any setting.
From my time as a Workshop Leader, I have learned about how well-informed UCL’s student body already is. As a result, I have been able to look forward to the kind of amazing changes we can achieve by working collectively. By taking on this role, I have also learned some things about myself and about my own passion for inspiring change around the community. At the end of the day, raising awareness of unacceptable behaviours and challenging different forms of misconduct all boils down to talking with one another. It is this emphasis on the power of dialogue within the Active Bystander Programme that has inspired me the most.