Transgressive behavior - information for students
Odisee University of Applied Sciences is committed to an environment where people treat each other respectfully and where there is no room for transgressive behavior such as (verbal and physical) aggression, (cyber) bullying, sexual transgressive behavior, stalking, harassment and discrimination.
If this does occur, Odisee takes it seriously and addresses it.
What is transgressive behavior?
Some limits are generally accepted, but other limits are individual. Everyone has the right to decide for themselves where their personal boundaries lie. Others are expected to respect the boundary you set.
We speak of transgressive behavior when someone does not respect your boundaries or generally accepted limits.
The college: A safe climate with respect for boundaries
As a student, it is important that you can feel safe in college and be evaluated objectively.
Therefore, we expect the people who guide you in your learning process - both at the college and at your internship/workplace learning - to exercise appropriate restraint and to be aware of their position of power towards students. Obviously, you as a student are also expected to behave respectfully towards others and respect their boundaries, both within the college and within activities linked to the college (e.g. activities of the student associations, internships, workplace learning, study trips, etc.).
In order to create a framework for respectful and professional interaction in each of these contexts, Odisee University of Applied Sciences developed a Code of Conduct to prevent transgressive behavior. Even when this Code of Conduct is exceeded, we speak of transgressive behavior.
What can you do when confronted with transgressive behavior?
Know that when someone violates your boundary, you may always point it out!
Do so in the clearest way possible. Sometimes you don't manage to respond in the moment or you only realize afterwards that your boundaries were crossed. It is never too late to indicate your boundaries. Even a late reaction is a reaction.
If you notice that your boundaries are still not respected or you do not feel safe enough to indicate your boundaries, take other action in time. For example, you can seek help from someone else and/or talk about it with someone you trust.
Where can you turn if you encounter transgressive behavior?
Internal: The college's confidants.
Do you experience transgressive behavior, do you witness it, do you hear rumors about it, do you have doubts or questions about it, or (you think) you crossed someone's boundaries? In all these situations, you can always contact one of the confidants on your campus (contact details, see bottom of this page).
The confidants offer a listening ear, can support you and advise you on how to deal with the situation. With the confidants, the focus is on caring for you as a student. You can always ask the confidants for information. The confidants always respect your limits. You will never be forced to tell more than you want to tell at that moment. All confidants work within legal professional secrecy, which means that conversations are confidential.
If you would like to take further steps, the confidants can discuss with you what possibilities They can assist you in doing so. The confidants can also mediate and/or raise the problem within the organization. It is important that the confidants only take action if you want them to. You always set the pace. When further steps are taken, you will always be informed about the progress.
Not only victims or witnesses of transgressive behavior may need a conversation or advice. Do you feel that you have crossed someone's boundaries and are worried about this? Even then you can contact the confidants for a listening ear and/or advice. These conversations also fall under the confidentiality of the confidants and are therefore confidential.
External: The Flemish Reporting Point for Transgressive Behavior
In addition to the confidants on your campus, you can also go externally to ask questions or talk about transgressive behavior. You can contact the Flemish Reporting Centre for Transgressive Behavior, which you can reach at:
- [email protected]
- 0800/13184 (weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. and on Monday evenings between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.)
- Chat: on the website of the hotline (working days between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.)
- Contact form: on the website of the tipline
You can find more information about how the hotline works on their website.
These individuals also have professional secrecy; thus, confidentiality is guaranteed.
Other external assistance
You can also always visit in complete anonymity at:
- Tele-onthaal: by phone (tel. 106) and via chat.
- 1712: Professional helpline for questions about violence, abuse and child abuse: by phone (tel. 1712) and via chat.
- Care centers after sexual violence.: A service offered in a number of hospitals in Belgium. They offer medical care, psychological care, sampling, filing a complaint and follow-up. Any victim of sexual violence can go there 24/7.
- Police: Are you a victim of criminal acts? Then you can always file a complaint with the police. The police also have a victim assistance service.
- CAW (Centrum Algemeen Welzijnswerk) victim support service. You can contact the CAW in your region for support and assistance.
In your own network
Talk about it with someone you trust, such as a friend, your parents, or a family member.
You can also talk to a teacher, internship supervisor, fellow student, or student representative. Just know that they do not have legal professional privilege.
Professional secrecy, what is it?
The confidants will never take steps and/or share information with others without your explicit permission.
The confidant will first find out what care or support you yourself need. Even if you do not want to take any further steps, it may therefore be useful to have a conversation with the confidants.
If you have questions about professional secrecy or the confidentiality of the conversations, do not hesitate to ask the confidants.
Why seek help?
When confronted with cross-border behavior, it is often a big step to talk about it. There may be a lot of thoughts, feelings or doubts that keep you from going to a confidant or ombudsperson. Yet it is important to take it seriously when your gut tells you that a situation is not okay. Equally important is not to be left alone with it.
Talking about it helps you to
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Dealing with the situation
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Feeling better in your skin
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Protecting yourself
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Protecting others
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To learn how to respect boundaries of others
Talking about your experiences with a confidant has many benefits.
- Talking about it often helps you cope better and feel better about yourself.
- By talking about it, you protect yourself. The confidant can give you information and advice on how to handle the situation and set boundaries. If necessary, they can also take measures to ensure that the transgressive behavior stops and that an objective evaluation is guaranteed.
- In addition, by talking about it, you may be able to protect others. Perhaps others have had similar experiences with a certain person before or there is a structural problem. Telling your story to the confidant can thus ensure that any structural problems come to light and can be solved.
- Even when you yourself crossed someone's boundaries, it helps to talk about it. After all, the confidant can help you learn to recognize and respect the boundaries of others. Moreover, the confidant can check with you whether and in what way recovery is possible.
- If you need further professional help, the confidants can direct you to appropriate professionals.
If you find it difficult to talk about it at first, but want to talk about it after a while, know that it is never too late to do so.
Contact your campus trustee
The contact information of the student confidants at Odisee campus Aalst can be found below.
The contact information for student confidants at Odisee campus Brussels can be found below.
The contact details of the confidential advisor for students of Odisee campus Dilbeek are listed below.
The contact information of the Confidential Advisor for students at Odisee campus Ghent can be found below.
The contact information of the confidential counselors for students at Odisee campus Schaarbeek can be found below.
The contact information of the confidential advisor for students at Odisee campus Sint-Niklaas can be found below.
