University responds to claims of bullying and elitism
Report leads to vow to do better by leader
DURHAM University has vowed to “do better” after a report revealed bullying, elitism and a lack of diversity at the institute.
The findings come from the Durham Commission on Respect, Values and Behaviour. Led by an independent chairwoman, and including staff and student representatives, and aimed to look at what can be done to create positive change.
The report highlighted issues of bullying and harassment, a lack of diversity and that a number of students come to Durham with a “sense of entitlement”.
Issues include demeaning language being used to refer to students from working-class backgrounds and the mocking of international accents and names by non-BAME members.
A survey revealed 18% of staff respondents and 30% of student respondents said that they had experienced some form of bullying or harassment whilst at the university.
But it also said there is general desire to improve behaviours and that while disrespect does exist, it is by no means universal.
Prof Stuart Corbridge, vicechancellor and warden at the university, said: “We believe that everyone has the right to study and work in an environment that is respectful and where people feel comfortable to be themselves and flourish. For most staff, students, visitors and partners, their experience of Durham University is a very positive one, but we want to do better still.
“We set up the Durham Commission on Respect, Values and Behaviour in the hope that our whole community would share their experiences, good and bad, and we are grateful that so many have done so.
“While the commission’s report highlights much good and positive behaviour, it also highlights that some behaviours persist which are entirely unacceptable.
“As a university, we are absolutely clear: intolerance, discrimination and disrespect are not acceptable and we have a strong will to improve.
“That is why we have agreed all 20 of the Respect Commission’s recommendations, are setting up a working group to lead on implementing them, and have set a clear timescale to show progress.”
The report states that one issue frequently reported to the commission is the failure to tackle instances of bullying and harassment at different levels within the university, with the behaviours often poorly addressed. There is even some evidence that such behaviour is sometimes tolerated and accepted.
The reports also found that a “lack of diversity”, particularly in relation to gender, social class and BAME representation, was at the root of a number of discriminatory and exclusionary behaviours exhibited by both staff and students.
The report said it is often seen by non-BAME members as “banter”, but offensive behaviours include mocking international accents and names, presuming BAME staff are assistants and underhand comments.
Some male students were also criticised for sexist behaviours, often fuelled by sporting groups or drunken behaviours including initiations that, while banned by the university, have not been eradicated, the report said.
“A number of students” come to Durham with a sense of entitlement that can lead to patronising or disrespectful behaviour, and an elitism which drives social class divisions.
In particular, there were numerous reports of workingclass students being disrespected by their peers and examples of demeaning language being used to refer to students from working-class backgrounds, indicating a culture of disregard and disdain for them.
But positive points included a sense of loyalty to the university from its staff and students, and a collective wish for it to succeed, improve in all ways and that whilst disrespect does exist, it is by no means universal.
The recommendations in the commission’s final report include respect being incorporated into the university’s values statement, training for all members of the university community in the institute’s values, attributes and behaviours, as well as on how to safely intervene to prevent negative behaviours.
More work will also be done to understand the experiences of staff leaving the university and a vice-provost post with specific responsibilities for equality and diversity will be created.
Commission chairwoman Fiona Ellis said: “If Durham is truly to live up to its aspiration to be a world-leading university then it must address all the matters that have been raised to us. We have produced recommendations in tandem with the people we consulted. They are designed to lead us into the next chapter.
“Faced with criticisms like those in this report, even the most open-to-change institution may be tempted to respond with a half-defensive ‘Yes but...’
“We set about our task with the confidence that the university has the will to change and that it shares our desire for Durham to meet its own high expectations of its staff and students, not merely academically, but in terms of relationships.”