Harassment contact persons are here to support you if you experience harassment or wish to discuss inappropriate behavior directed towards yourself or other members of our university community. Harassment can include discrimination, targeting, unequal treatment such as in evaluations, threats, or verbal or physical behavior that is offensive to the recipient.
The activities of harassment contact persons are based on the Code of Conduct developed by SAVOTTA, which you can find here.
How do I contact harassment contact persons?
If you experience harassment, contact the student union:
- via email: hairinta@opiskelijakuntasavotta.fi
- By directly contacting the harassment contact persons (contact information below)
SAVOTTA’s harassment contact persons
Our student union has appointed two harassment contact persons who are bound by confidentiality and act only at the request and consent of the contact person. All further actions are decided together with the student.
Tiina Landén
tuutorointi(ät)opiskelijakuntasavotta.fi
Heikki Tikkanen
044 975 6628
varapuheenjohtaja(ät)opiskelijakuntasavotta.fi
What is harassment?
Harassment includes all inappropriate treatment; from name-calling and exclusion from groups, to discrimination and sexual harassment. Harassment is always an individual experience. Harassment is unwanted behavior: for example, touching, commenting, insinuating, joking, or otherwise inappropriate behavior towards the harassed person. If you are unsure whether the situation you experienced or observed was harassment, please contact us so we can discuss the situation together.
Harassment is never the fault of the person who experienced it. Prolonged harassment can lead to depression, social isolation, and difficulties in studies. Harassment is one form of discrimination and is contrary to equality and non-discrimination laws. If harassment occurs in a university environment, the university is obliged to intervene.
It is often difficult for a person to examine their own behavior from another’s perspective, so they may not even realize that they are behaving in a disturbing manner. Often, a reminder of inappropriate behavior is enough to correct the situation, but sometimes mere conversation is not enough.
What does a harassment contact person do?
The harassment contact person is a trained individual who can be contacted by those who have experienced harassment. The role of the harassment contact person is to advise, support, and assist. The harassment contact person is not a judge but can help move situations forward and will never take action without the consent of the party involved. The contact person is neutral and, together with the person contacting them, will consider what has happened and how the situation can be addressed. The contact person knows where the best help can be found, even in urgent cases, and can guide the student to assistance if necessary.
It is advisable to contact them, even if you do not feel the need for anything other than a discussion. The harassment contact person supports the person contacting them for as long as the situation requires and can help guide the student to Savonia’s student well-being services or other well-being services if necessary.
All discussions with the harassment contact person are always completely confidential.