Bullying in College a Growing Issue

An article in the Canadian press indicated recently that while cyberbullies are growing up, they are not changing. In fact, according to a team of researchers at Simon Frasier University, cyberbullying is carrying over into the college years at an alarming rate.

Roughly one in five undergraduate students have been cyberbullied. Based on the research, most of the harassment takes place on Facebook and through text messages and e-mails. What’s more, many universities are ill equipped to address online bullying. In fact, researchers found that very few university policies specifically address online bullying.

But with the growing number of bullying and hazing incidents on college campuses, something must be done. What’s more, bullying of any type at the college level poses some unique challenges.

For many students, they are separated for the first time from family and friends. Therefore, they often do not have the support system they would have living at home. Additionally, in some cases the bully is not just some kid in their math class, but a dorm mate or worse yet, their roommate. As a result, there is no escaping the bullying.

These special circumstances need to be considered as colleges and universities adjust their policies to reflect the changing times. In the meantime, if you or someone you know is being bullied at college, you may find the following articles helpful: 

• 10 Ways to Deal with College Cyberbullies
• Bullying and Hazing – Is There a Difference?
• 5 Facts About Bullying in College
• 7 Ways to Deal with College Roommates that Bully
• 7 Steps College Students Should Take When Bullied
• 4 Things Every Parent Should Tell Their Kids About Hazing

For more information on bullying, visit Bullying on About.com. You also can connect with me on Facebook and on Twitter.

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