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The first period of the academic year is almost over, and the first exams are approaching. New attendance practices have brought life and encounters back to campuses. When people are brought together, conflicts inevitably arise.
Conflicts have always occurred between people. However, conflicts often remain hidden if encounters happen only rarely or solely online. Excesses inevitably happen when we are in the same spaces – and that’s a good thing.
Because we learn through mistakes. Sometimes, when tired or otherwise inattentive, we say something thoughtless. In a higher education community, we are all different, and it is not always possible to know in advance where another person’s boundaries lie.
It is clear that we must not intentionally offend others. Equally, it is important to give others the opportunity to correct their mistakes. How else can we learn and improve our ways of acting?
Haaga-Helia’s safer space principles articulate this as follows:
“3. We meet with respect and care.”
“4. We interpret situations according to the principle of good intent.”
In the student community, it is important that we support each other in learning both subject-related content and collaboration skills. Many situations related to studies are new to us, and therefore it is important that we have a safe environment to make mistakes – and to correct them.
Here’s what to do if you encounter situations where you feel someone is behaving inappropriately:
- Bring up the issue with the student in question.
- Mention what feelings and thoughts the other person’s actions evoke in you.
- Offer them a more effective way to express the same thing.
- Give the other person a chance to correct their behavior.
- If the above actions do not produce results, you can always report observed or experienced discrimination, harassment, and inappropriate behavior to Turvaamo, where your report will be handled confidentially and your wishes will be listened to.
Read more about our Safer Space practice: TURVAAMO
