Be an Active Bystander

 
BE AN ACTIVE BYSTANDER - Speak out and stand up to prevent sexual violence at Siena College!
 
A bystander is someone who witnesses a problem behavior and doesn’t do anything about it. 
 
An ACTIVE bystander is someone who intervenes and makes a difference.  Did you know?  98% of Siena students report that they would intervene through words or actions to prevent incapacitated sex/sexual assault. (Siena College Health Survey Fall 2011) So, speak out and stand up to prevent sexual violence at Siena College!
 
Here are some tips for becoming an active bystander.
 
Intervene by word or action (examples: call Public Safety or seek assistance from a residential life staff member. Don’t let a friend or someone you see be stalked, in an abusive relationship or coerced into leaving with someone they don‘t know.)  
 
Intervening to prevent sexual violence includes:
 
          ·         Interpreting the incident as a problem
          ·         Assuming responsibility
          ·         Attempting to Help
 
USE THE 3-D INTERVENTION MODEL to help you intervene:
 
Direct – if you feel comfortable and safe to do so, approach the person(s) yourself
 
Delegate- Find friends of the victim (or potential perpetrator) to intervene, call the Residence
Director, Public Safety, police or another campus professional
 
Distract- Divert attention away from the situation, district one of the parties into shifting attention (interrupt and ask the person to make sure you get home safely, spill a drink…)
 
It’s safe to speak out and stand up: Students are sometimes afraid to report incidents when drinking or drug use is a factor in the situation for fear that because they were present, they will get into trouble.  At Siena we believe in safety first and, as a result, we have enacted a Welfare of the Community policy:  In situations like these, any possible negative consequences for the reporter of the problem will be evaluated against the possible negative consequences for the student who needed assistance, those who assisted in an investigation about the incident, and/or the larger community.  In such cases, the positive impact upon the welfare of the community will be given great weight in determining the appropriate response to the student conduct code violations.  The College will consider very favorably the positive impact of reporting, aka of serving as an active bystander.  You can learn more about the Welfare of the Community policy in Siena Life or by talking with the Dean or an Associate Dean of Students. 
 
In short, DO SOMETHING!!!!!!