What is Bullying and Harassment? 

  • Bullying
    Bullying is a pattern of aggressive physical or verbal behaviour meant to hurt or cause discomfort to another person. Bullies rely on power to harm others. This power can come from physical size, strength, status, or support from within their peer group

  • Harassment
    Harassment occurs when someone is subjected to unwelcome verbal or physical acts because of their race, religious beliefs, gender, physical or mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, family status, personal characteristics, or sexual orientation.

  • Sexual Harassment
    Sexual harassment is any behavior, conduct, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature that is unwanted and makes one feel uncomfortable.

REMEMBER
Everyone should feel safe within the college community, and no one deserves to be bullied or harassed. if you ever experience bullying or harassment, remember:

  • Asking for help is not a sign of weakness
  • Telling someone about being bullied is not snitching
  • Focus on everything that’s great about you – others notice these things too
  • The things that single you out to your bullies are the things that make you the wonderfully singular person you are
  • There are options at Langara to report incidents of bullying or harassment   

Physical
Physical bullying and harassment involves a person being harmed or their property being damaged. Some examples include:

  • Slapping, hitting, pinching, punching, kicking, unwelcome touching
  • Being locked in a confined space, extortion, breaking or stealing belongings
  • Sexual violence or assault

Verbal
With verbal bullying, a person’s feelings are hurt through insults and name-calling. Some examples include:

  • Name-calling, threats, unwelcome teasing or taunting
  • Racist, sexist or homophobic comments

Social
In social bullying, a person is shunned or excluded from groups and events. Some examples may include:

  • Mocking other people, spreading rumours, gossiping
  • Threatening, insulting, or demeaning graffiti, notes, letters, emails, texts or telephone calls

 

Cyber
Cyberbullying is a form of verbal or social bullying when technology is used in order to harm other people in a deliberate, repeated or hostile manner. Some examples are:

  • Abusive or hurtful texts, emails, posts, images or videos
  • Imitating others online or using their log-in without permission
  • Spreading of gossip or rumors through online or mobile technology
  • Forwarding something to another person that was meant to be private
  • Recording someone, or circulating recordings of someone, without their permission  

There are some techniques or strategies that you can use in the moment. These can include:

  • Walk away
  • Say something complementary to the bully to distract them
  • Stay in groups to avoid confrontation
  • Use humor to deflect the situation
  • Change the subject
  • Ignore the offensive comment or statement
  • Get help and report it

 

Here is some advice if you experience bullying or harassment in an online environment: 

  • Don’t respond to the bully or inappropriate messages
  • Screenshot and save the messages, emails, or images that have been posted online as evidence
  • Block the person from contacting you again
  • Report the person to the service providers (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, etc.)
  • Tell someone you trust
  • Get help and report it  

Speak up and offer support for the victim
If you step in to support the victim, other people are more likely to step in too. You can directly support the victim if it’s safe to do so, or try to distract the bully or harasser. Make sure the person who is experiencing the bullying is OK by asking them how they’re doing and reminding them that it’s not their fault.

Encourage the victim to report the harassment or bullying 
Let the victim know that they can confidentially report harassment or bullying to the Office of Student Conduct & Academic Integrity if they are a student (or to their supervisor if they are an employee).

Report what you observe 
As a witness you can also report harassment or bullying to the Office of Student Conduct & Academic Integrity if you are a student (or to your supervisor if you are an employee).

Work with your student union and college administration to bring awareness to your campus
Contact your Langara Student’s Union (LSU) representatives to see what initiatives you can be a part of to increase awareness of the impacts of bullying and harassment on your campus. The LSU is located in the L Building, and can be reached at 604.324.3881.  

ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES
(Available During College Business Hours)

Langara Counselling Department
B Building, Room B111 
604.323.5221
counselling@langara.bc.ca

Langara Health Services
B Building, Room B101
604.323.5256

Human Resources Department (for employees)
Labour Relations & Human Rights
A Building, Room A350
604.323.5618
hrpayroll@langara.ca 

Campus Safety and Security
Across from Bookstore
604.562.1011
csecure@langara.ca

Student Conduct & Academic Integrity
T Building, Room T206
604.323.5817
studentconduct@langara.ca

OFF-CAMPUS RESOURCES

Bullying Canada
Support available 24/7
1.877.352.4497
support@bullyingcanada.ca

CrisisCentre
Support available 24/7
Available in over 140 languages
1.800.784.2433
crisiscentre.bc.ca 
Chat: youthinbc.com 

Empower Me
Support available 24/7
Available in over 80 languages
1.844.741.6389

BC211, Youth Against Violence Line 
Support available 24/7
1.800.680.4264
info@youthagainstviolenceline.com

VGH Access & Assessment Centre
Support Available 7:30 am–11:00 pm
803 West 12th Avenue,
Vancouver, BC
Access via Heather Street
604.675.3700