Why College Students Should Be Expelled for Bullying

Imagine that you are walking down the hallway at your university to get to your class. On your way, you witness some familiar faces, talking and laughing. But as you pass, the laughter stops. “Hey, loser,” one of them says to you. You get shoved to the ground, bruising your arm and knees. As you lay there, your face turns red, while you hold back your tears, and they walk away laughing with a smirk on their face. 

 

This is not just a bad day. This is an everyday reality. Such scenarios happen at universities worldwide and ours as well. Bullying, which can take many forms—including physical aggression, verbal insults, social exclusion, and online harassment—is a repeated, intentional act meant to harm or intimidate its target.

 

I believe bullies should be expelled indefinitely from their university.

 

Bullying is not explicitly mentioned in our university’s student handbook, but it falls under the category of “disruptive behavior”: “Disruptive behavior includes physical or verbal abuse, assault, harassment, threats, excessive noise, destruction, public intoxication, and boisterousness.” It also includes “behaving in any way that poses a reasonable threat to the physical, mental, or emotional safety of others in the classroom.” While the handbook emphasizes that a “culture of civility and mutual respect is expected to prevail” on campus, it provides no direct mention of bullying. However, disruptive behavior is prohibited, and consequences include judicial sanctions through the university’s Conduct Council or criminal proceedings with authorities.

 

Last semester, an AUBG student was expelled for disruptive behavior that included bullying, though it was not the sole reason for their expulsion, according to Sabina Wien, Dean of Students. Despite this, the only mention of the issue during orientation week is a single slide in a presentation on disruptive behavior, as students are generally expected to conduct themselves with respect toward others and familiarize themselves with the student handbook.

 

Bullying is a serious problem faced by educational institutions. According to the Violence Prevention, Victim Advocacy and Support (VPAS) Center, 18.5% of students in the United States report being bullied while in college (non-cyber bullying), and a third of youth suicides, ages 15 to 24, are linked to bullying. While these numbers might not apply to universities outside the U.S., bullying happens wherever there are young people in educational settings.

 

Many cases go unreported because victims might feel that they may not be taken seriously or there would be a delay in response by the university. But this could be changed with the implementation of strict rules. 

 

Universities have a responsibility to protect their students’ well-being. Bullying can have severe short-term effects on victims, like depression, anxiety, sleep disturbance, changes in eating habits, poor school performance, and social isolation. If not properly dealt with, these effects can turn into long-term consequences, such as drug and alcohol abuse, PTSD, self-harm, chronic depression, anxiety disorders, and even suicidal thoughts. Students impacted psychologically will experience setbacks in their academic and professional lives, ultimately affecting their career prospects. Universities risk endangering their students’ mental health and overall well-being by tolerating bullying.

 

Expulsion from university will hold bullies accountable and prevent other students from becoming targets. Psychologist B.F. Skinner’s behaviorist theory suggests that “behavior is motivated by the consequences we receive for the behavior”. Therefore, when people are held accountable for their actions, they are more likely to understand the impact of their harmful behavior. Being expelled for bullying sends a clear message to students that bullying is serious misconduct. In addition, expulsion may end the cycle of bullying, since studies show that bullies continue their behavior in the workplace after graduating from college.

 

Finally, expulsion will preserve the university’s reputation and uphold ethical standards. In 2021, students and faculty at the University of Durham have accused the administration of showing a “culture of apathy” regarding bullying and harassment. “The university should be setting an example at an administrative level,” says Anya Chuykov, president of the university’s Intersectional Feminism Society. “Instead, it is showing both students and staff that poor behavior can be excused and that their safety and concerns are not worthy of attention.” The university received public backlash over this scandal, which damaged its reputation. For six years straight, its rating has decreased in the university league rankings. Nowadays, it does not even make the list of top 20 British universities, due to its environment and internal controversies. While recent reports do not mention the bullying scandal as the reason for this decline, it still plays a role in shaping its image in the eyes of prospective students and staff.

 

While some might still argue that expulsion is too harsh, the case of 20-year-old Oxford student Alexander Rogers, who was “bullied to death”, proves otherwise. In 2024, Alexander committed suicide after being a victim of targeted behavior- he was ostracized and called names following rumors about his character. His story is yet another reminder that bullying is not a minor issue but an epidemic among students. Universities should take this matter seriously and have a zero-tolerance policy on bullying.

 

 

This article has been written by Antoine Husseini, an AUBG student. It is part of the collaboration between AUBG Daily and the Newsroom course led by Prof. Laura Kelly.