It is an obligation of a staff member or student to weigh the importance of these allegiances in each particular set of circumstances and to notify an appropriate officer of the University where such conflict does or may arise. The Code of Ethics is based on three universal ethical principles. Justice is concerned with power sharing and preventing the abuse of power. In a just community all members can access opportunities that allow for their full participation in that community. People should be treated as individuals with rights to be honoured and defended.
Respect empowers others to claim their rights and to achieve their potential.
Respect for the rights of other people is the basis on which individuals become members of a community and accept their social responsibilities to behave with sincerity and integrity. Membership of a community means, however, that individuals not only have rights but that they also have duties and responsibilities to others to act openly and honestly. Words such as 'sexist' or 'racist' tend to exclude the object from discussion without arguing out the case. The principle of taking personal and professional responsibility requires not only that people avoid doing harm to others but that they exhibit courteous behaviour upholding the standards expected of all members of the University community as part of achieving a common good. In so doing they are expected to protect the rights of others and respect the diversity of all cultures and peoples.