On Wednesday morning, square red RSPCT badges are being handed out. One of the people handing them out jokingly tells the first-year students coming in for their Social Work introduction to wear the badge because that’s how things work at the school. They eye him, slightly panicked, and enter with their iron pins in hand. The badges are later found throughout the cafeteria. On tables, not on shirts.

RSPCT
‘The rules are not new, but we are bringing more attention to them, and the campaign was both designed and implemented by our own creative team from the school’s communication department,’ says project leader Petra van Gelderen proudly. ‘We brainstormed about it for a long time, and we thought the image of the two armed figures to be the most appealing. It says RSPCT right below the figures, because that’s what the rules are all about, really: just be respectful towards one another.’

The house rules that the university of applied sciences wants to emphasise are:
– Smoking only where it is permitted to do so
– Making sure each space is neat and tidy when we leave
– Dutch is the language of education (or English for international programs)
– We keep quiet in designated quiet areas
– We treat each other’s property and interests, as well as those of the school, with care
– The school’s computers are used only for study purposes
– We refrain from undesired behaviour and point out such behaviour to each other

‘To be clear: the language of instruction for international study programmes is English, and you can speak French during French classes’, Van Gelderen explains.

Supervisors
In order to ensure the rules are complied with, the university of applied sciences has employed eight supervisors. Men and women with a security diploma, wearing the associated V on their blue polo shirt or jacket, direct smokers to the designated smoking areas, and talk to students and employees who litter about their conduct. The powers of these supervisors are limited to the Rotterdam University of Applied Science’s premises, but they are free to ask smokers on the public roads, in front of the institution’s entrance, to do so elsewhere so as not to bother non-smokers. Van Gelderen: ‘This is all part of being respectful towards one another.’

The supervisors cannot impose sanctions, but they are far from powerless. After a few stern warnings, if people keep misbehaving, they could be issued a formal written warning or be denied access to the premises by the RBS Dean or the Executive Board. Paul Goossens, Safety and Security Adviser, explains: ‘Legally, this was already possible. The student handbook and the collective labour agreements already included possibilities for disciplinary action against misconduct, but we are going to actively use this power if we really need to. Although I do not think it will come to that in practice.’

Consequences
Students and employees would have to seriously cross the line before their behaviour leads to serious consequences. If a supervisor confronts them about their behaviour, and they do not respond appropriately, the supervisors may ask for identification. Their name will then be registered in the incident registration system. ‘If a name shows up regularly, I will ask the RBS dean to send that person a letter with a request to appear before the dean,’ says Goossens.

Van Gelderen: ‘During this talk, the dean will ask the perpetrator why they refuse to comply with the rules. We assume most issues will be fully resolved after such a talk. Personally, I would be very much ashamed of myself if I was summoned like that.’
If people refuse to correct their behaviour after a talk with the dean, they can expect disciplinary actions to be taken. Furthermore, we have a zero-tolerance policy regarding misconduct towards supervisors, which the deans will be notified of immediately.

Finally
Eight supervisors have been employed, and we can accommodate ten. This is far from enough to keep an eye on everyone but, according to Goossens, that was never the intention: ‘In principle, we are all supervisors. It should become every-day practice everyone to confront others about their behaviour. On Monday, I joined the supervisors at Museumpark for a day, and I do not think this will be a problem. People usually show a positive response. They are fully aware of undesired behaviour.’ Van Gelderen: ‘In the hallways I sometimes even hear exclamations such as “Finally!” Apparently, people have felt this was necessary for a while now.’

Tosca Sel