As a third year graphic design student I have been undertaking my final year honours project. I decided to tackle an issue I feel passionately about and that I think needs bringing to the publics attention. Recently bullying has been noted as a serious issue not just for the school child, but for people in the workplace. It is nationally accepted that adults can be bullied. It has been accepted for years that bullying takes place throughout school in five to eighteen year olds and now workplace bullying has been given the recognition it needs. However, a certain body of people has been massively overlooked. University bullying is very serious. Thousands of college pupils become students in the autumn of each year. Ninety percent of these students are moving away from home for their first time and will probably spend that first year away living with strangers from different cultural and financial backgrounds. Many of these students will be taking a huge financial undertaking as they try to prepare for the higher education and their future careers. My research shows one of the most volatile scenarios for bullying has been massively overlooked and people are completely unaware of the bullying that can take place across all UK universities. A situation is created where young people want to prove to their parents, guardians and families that they are now prepared for life and can manage on their own, while at the same time they are taking on huge loans, a far more advanced education and examination system than they’re used too, and living with strangers a long way from home. Before any bullying has even taken place, a scenario has been created to make some of the most fragile and vulnerable people in society. People with huge debts, and few qualifications, trying to further themselves, left to fend or themselves. Various organizations and charities have been aware for many years of the stresses of student life and that students as a group have more mental health issues than any other group within UK society. Yet there has never been a charity, organization or government department to recognise the levels or bullying and the potential for bullying within this environment. In vulnerable situations, things that people would normally brush off can very quickly highlight their weaknesses and lead to further bullying and isolation. In all bullying scenarios, it is often the person who first has a reaction to the bully that becomes the victim. University can often be the first time young people are introduced to alcohol in a big way and illegal substances. The majority of substances and alcohol are easily available to a student. However, much like general society, many students would prefer to opt out of taking anything illegal and very rarely drink heavily. The stereotypical cannabis smoking, binge drinking student is a minority within the student community. However, that stereotype creates a label that a lot of students aspire to in their first year of university. A peer pressure environment is easily created where people are encouraged to drink more or take things that they wouldn’t normally take in any other environment. They feel that if they don’t comply they will be the social misfit and be bullied, without realizing that the peer pressure on them is a form of bullying anyway and that they will probably feel just as bad, if not worse, for doing something they didn’t want to do. In these cases the government and local communities always seem quick to blame alcohol or drugs for this kind of behavior but it could be suggested that peer pressure exists throughout society and actually it is the people to blame. If a system existed where people felt able to refuse the pressure or had somewhere else to go, or were aware that what was happening around them was bullying then perhaps this would reduce the problem. If the people providing the pressure realised they were bullies, perhaps they wouldn’t do it. I think this is a problem that can be tackled, a problem that needs solutions and help available and my project aims to build the beginnings of an organization able to create awareness and hopefully offer assistance. If anyone has any thoughts or comments it would be much appreciated. I can be contacted at joel@joelstone.co.uk.