A first-year psychology student says a School of Psychology flyer contest to promote respectful behaviour on campus should have been a paid gig instead.
An email sent to psych students in early July called for flyer designs to promote the school’s Behaviour Statement, it’s response to the 2021 National Student Safety Survey.
“Our statement document itself is important for students and staff to read as it discusses the expected behaviour and values we want to promote to ensure a positive and supportive environment for work and study,” the email said.
“But the formal document looks boring, and the UOW advertising will be formulaic. So that’s where you come in! Could you design an eye-catching flyer directed towards other students, that still maintains the core messaging from the statement itself?
“The best FOUR flyer designs from undergraduate students will receive a $20 voucher (for Bunnings or Dymocks – your choice) and you’ll get to see the work featuring in advertising placed around the school and online.”
Pysch student Amanda Woodgate said she was “upset” reading about the contest, which ends Thursday.
“I was honestly really upset and disappointed because I think it’s kind of absurd. It feels like they delegated their sexual assault response to the students,” she told The Tertangala.
“The email says our statement would seem too ‘formulaic,’ but that’s sort of the problem that’s on them.
“They should actually hire an artist or perhaps pay students what you’d actually pay for marketing- because it’s $20. It’s a $20 voucher for Bunnings or Dymockes. If I was making marketing content for the school that was going to be put online and around the school, I’d want to be able to buy like one book from Dymocks- and they’re more than $20.”
A University of Wollongong spokesperson said the university is paying a marketing student for formal advertising.
“One approach that the School has taken to encourage students to read and engage with the content of the Behaviour Statement is to hold a competition to develop and generate ideas about in-house advertising,” the spokesperson said.
“The School of Psychology also wanted to provide psychology students with the opportunity to have a voice in creating messaging directed towards their own cohort. Undergraduate students are welcome to submit their ideas, but it is not compulsory to enter the competition.
“Advertising is being created through UOW’s Safe and Respectful Communities to help publicise the School of Psychology’s Behaviour Statement. The advertising is being created using the skills of a UOW marketing student, who is being paid for her work. This formal UOW advertising will be finalised for the official launch of the Behaviour Statement.”
The Behaviour Statement follows the March release of the NSSS results on sexual misconduct in university settings. They revealed at least one in six students nation-wide had experienced sexual harassement since starting university.
One in 20 told the survey they had experienced sexual assault.
The statement outlines inappropriate behaviours and aims to “clarify the things that are often not said or are buried in policy documents,” according to it’s ‘Background and Context’ section.
“We want to identify clear reporting pathways and a joint responsibility for maintaining our positive and productive environment,” the document says.
“Positive workplace cultures are created through every day interactions. Open conversations and discussions within the school about expected behaviours and values is really important in creating a positive and supportive environment; one in which people feel they can discuss inappropriate behaviours, and when necessary, call out inappropriate behaviours.”