Our campaign: 'it's never just' 

Sexual Misconduct and Violence has no place in Durham. We are confronting unacceptable behaviours, supporting those affected and embedding a culture of respect and safety across our community. 

"I just won't be believed."

Your voice matters. You deserve to be heard, and you will be supported.

We have trained staff who will listen without judgement, respect your experience, and explain the options available to you.

You don't have to go through this alone.

- it's never just.

“I just had too much to drink.” 

Alcohol doesn't excuse harm or erase the need for consent. Being intoxicated doesn't make it okay to cross boundaries. It doesn't make someone else's silence, body language, or incapacity a form of consent. Intoxication could be considered an aggravating factor and lead to more severe disciplinary sanctions. 

 - it's never just. 

"I just didn't want to get involved." 

It's easy to feel like you 'didn't know what to do' or it's 'not your business'. Getting involved doesn't mean confrontation. It can mean checking in with someone, interrupting a situation, or reporting what you saw.  Your voice can be the one that makes someone feel safe, believed and not alone.  It's never 'just' someone else's problem. 

- it's never just. 

"They just wouldn't listen."

If someone ignored your boundaries, whether you said no, moved away, froze, or stayed silent, that matters. Consent must be enthusiastic, freely given, informed, ongoing and always respected. When someone doesn't listen to you, it's not just a misunderstanding or 'mixed signals'. Your consent matters. 

- it's never just.

"It was just a touch." 

Sexually touching another person without their consent can feel invasive, threatening, and dehumanising, especially when it's dismissed as harmless. Whether it's a hand on the lower back, an uninvited hug, or a lingering touch, these actions send the message that a person's body is not their own. Consent isn't optional. A touch is never 'just' when it's not wanted and it could lead to exclusion or expulsion. 

- it's never just. 

“It just happened once, they didn’t mean it.” 

It happened. The impact of their actions matters. If something they did made you feel scared, controlled, pressured, violated, or disrespected, it matters. You're allowed to speak up, even if you 

still care about the person, or you're unsure how to describe what happened. You have options to talk about it with somebody,  

access support or make a report. 

- it's never just. 

“It’s just not worth reporting.” 

Disclosing unwanted sexual behaviour is not a waste of time. Every experience matters. Reporting unwanted behaviour is a powerful step towards support and change, helping us to create a safer community for everyone. 

 - it's never just. 

“It was just a bit of fun.”  

Discriminatory "jokes" often reinforce a culture that normalises disrespect and blurs boundaries. 

They can silence those who experience them, create unsafe spaces, and make people feel exposed or ridiculed.  

Those engaging in behaviours that intimidate, sexualise, or humiliate others aren’t funny. They could face a reprimand, restrictions around campus and even expulsion.  

- it’s never just.

“It was just easier to go along with it.” 

Feeling pressured is not consent. When someone pushes you to 'just try' something sexual, especially after you've hesitated, said no, or seemed uncomfortable, that's coercion, not choice. Being pressured is a valid reason to feel unsafe or confused, and it's a valid reason to seek support. 

 - it's never just. 

"It was just a picture."

Image-based sexual violence violates trust, dignity, and consent. 

Sharing or taking intimate images without permission isn't harmless. It's a deliberate breach of someone's privacy, it's illegal, and it's a breach of University policy. 

It's about more that the picture, it's a means of control and a violation. 

- it's never just.