1. What would you like the Union to do?
It is our responsibility to ensure everyone is well aware of how to deal with instances of sexual misconduct, bullying and harassment and what steps they can take to either prevent them or mitigate the consequences. This is why the Active Bystander course is an essential tool the Students’ Union has administered, which we can use to our advantage.
Proposal: “Make it compulsory for all student leaders to complete an Active Bystander training to be able to achieve their position.”
This can be in addition to further information that provides them with resources on where to ask for help, emergency services they can contact, etc.
Why Active Bystander?
The Active Bystander course perfectly encapsulates all the information required to know how to confidently (but safely) intervene in dangerous situations that include bullying, harassment and sexual misconduct.
It is user-friendly, time-efficient, and effective in its teaching approach. By incorporating interactive elements and real-world examples, it creates a thought-provoking learning experience.
The modules should be taken by any student no matter their gender or age.
Moreover, as it is possible to track whether they have completed these courses, it will ensure and encourage everybody has done so, providing an incentive.
Why all student leaders?
Originally, this policy proposal was intended for all ‘Committee Members of clubs and societies’. However, following an amendment at Activities Zone on Tuesday 25 February, this policy proposal now refers to ‘all student leaders’ including student led projects.
It is vital that all student leaders are equipped with the knowledge of the training and empowered to challenge unacceptable behaviours.
Through acquiring this knowledge, they will be able to easily deal with any problems that come their way and spot any potential problems, such as behaviours that are side-lined and sheltered by friends.
Due to student leaders taking the course, they can then encourage all of their members, students they represent and/or students they are frequent contact with to do the same, to maintain best practices.
Failure of student leaders to complete this training could result in removal from their position or disaffiliation of the club or society they are on the committee of.
2. Why would you like to do this?
The Active Bystander training has been clearly successful in empowering students to deal with difficult situations, so making it compulsory for student leaders to complete this training will equip them to make their communities safe.
Additionally:
Education about consent is important and needs to be talked about.
We need to equip our students with the best tools to ensure safety on campus.
If more people begin to take the Active Bystander course, more will learn about useful resources like Report + Support, effectively encouraging more help and support within the UCL community that we desperately need.
3. How will this affect students?
This policy would make students feel safer, knowing that student leaders care about their safety and are equipped to deal with situations where they can guide them. It would encourage more people to complete these courses and reduce the overall increase in the trend of sexual misconduct, harassment, and bullying on campus.
*This is a re-submission of a lapsed policy [UP2201], which has been updated to reflect the current needs of the Union.