Bystander intervention training teaches students how to spot potential assault
The counseling center presented a brief course in how to identify and prevent potential domestic violence and sexual assault this past week.
Director of Counseling, Cindy Gelinas, with help from Assistant Director of Student Life, Christian Medders, presented examples of situations in which proactive students could make a difference in their friends’ and peers’ lives by speaking up or taking action when they see unhealthy or unsafe behavior.
Specifically, students were taught effective strategies to diffuse various practical situations in which people might be tempted to be permissive of their peers’ behavior. They specifically provided support for situations such as stopping a person from drinking alcohol that has obviously already had too much, talking to your friend about their increasingly unhealthy relationship or recognizing and stopping sexual assault at parties.
The bystander intervention training program also provided examples to help recognize common non-physical abusive behaviors like stalking and inappropriate sexting in the hope that recognition is the first step in prevention.
Photo by Editor-in-Chief Cecilia Maddox.
