There is a difference between events and socials that make students feel welcomed, and those that cause fear, distress and physical and emotional danger. Not all social events, whether a start of the year ‘initiation’ or an in-season club social involve the types of harmful or inappropriate activities or behaviours that would establish a ‘problem event’.

A ‘problem event’ includes any activity that could reasonably be perceived as resulting in risk or occurrence of physical or mental detriment to participants.

It is a problem event (‘initiation’ or club/team social) regardless of whether it has been labelled as such by the group, regardless of an individual’s willingness to participate, and regardless of where and when it takes place.

Indeed, these ‘events’ can be part of a wider pattern of abuse which features many of the issues outlined below. These behaviours could take place in pre-season, around training sessions, across the campus or on messaging/social media groups. More commonly characterised as bullying, these behaviours follow a similar pattern and have a similar negative impact.

A problem event is not defined by:  

  • The naming of an activity 

  • When it takes place 

  • The location of that activity 

  • Individuals willing to participate 

It’s the problem activities and behaviours which it consists of which make it a problem event.

When it takes place

Problem events are often considered to only be those that take place at the start of a term, or when individuals are first joining a group. That is not correct.

Where it takes place 

Whether in a campus bar, in a bar or pub, in a house, across campus or online – the impact of these behaviours does not change. 

The naming of an activity 

We recognise activities and events that are not typically considered to be an ‘initiation’, such as sports tours or club social events. These activities can foster these problem activities and behaviours and therefore could be deemed a ‘problem event’.

Individuals willing to participate

We are also clear that ‘problem events’ include activities where inappropriate or risky behaviour is expected or normalised, regardless of an individual’s apparent willingness to participate. 

Problem activities and behaviours 

Inappropriate or dangerous activities or behaviours associated with 'problem events' include but are not limited to:  

  • Bullying, harassment and power inequality, often used as a means to coerce participation in activities, challenges and other risky behaviours designed to humiliate, often against a person’s will 

  • Consumption of excessive quantities of alcohol 

  • Consumption of abnormal/unpleasant substances, legal or illegal 

  • Forced acts of nudity/nakedness 

  • The humiliation of a person in public (i.e. setting someone up to fail) 

  • Isolation or ostracising of individuals through the removal of their mobile phones, geographical remoteness or physical isolation 

  • Physical acts perpetrated against a person’s body (e.g. Shaving their hair) 

  • Psychological torment 

  • Sexual assault 

  • Sexual harassment 

  • Victimisation of a specific group of individuals (e.g. “Freshers”) 

  • Dehumanisation or discrimination of an individual or group of individuals by not referring to them by their name