Respect in a nutshell

These were some of the opinions expressed by our project team in the discussions leading up to the Respect campaign. But the aim was clear: we needed a strong message which would provoke discussions. The posters which said things like “Welcome. You nerd.” or “You’re smart. For a woman.” proved to be similarly contentious to begin with. The campaign certainly provoked strong reactions. I was pleased to see that the initial response of “Do we really need this? It goes without saying at ETH!” was replaced over time with “We have to stand up for the values that bind us together.”

One thing quickly became clear: respect concerns everyone – professors, employees and students. ETH cannot turn a blind eye in cases of disrespect – we all need to be observant and take action, because a lack of respect hinders work and cooperation and violates people’s dignity. That’s why, as well as making people think, a campaign can stir people’s emotions.

This has encouraged us to focus on the shared values that we are always talking about in the second part of the campaign. By publishing a university-wide Respect Code of Conduct, we want to show how we can create an environment of trust, dialogue and appreciation through clarity and responsibility.

The Code of Conduct, which was drafted in a broad discussion between departments, university groups and the Executive Board, explains the principles that govern our interactions with each other. It describes the point at which behaviour becomes inappropriate. We want people to read the Code of Conduct and then put it into practice: we can all do our bit. The Code of Conduct, which you will have received at the start of April, tells you where you can find support and how you can take action – even if you were “only” a witness to inappropriate behaviour.

Just as at the start of the campaign, you will be seeing posters and stickers around the ETH buildings with slogans where positive and disrespectful statements are separated by a full stop. All new employees joining ETH will be told about the campaign at the welcome events.

I am pleased that ETH is taking a strong stand with the Code of Conduct. What matters, though, is not the document itself but the fact that the values it describes are being put into practice every day: paying attention, being observant, responding, having the courage to say something, taking action when necessary. That is and will remain our goal – now and in the future.