Take Back the Night (TBTN) is Wednesday, March 27. Members of the campus community will gather at 7 p.m. in Hendricks Chapel to unite against sexual and domestic violence and raise awareness and meaningful conversation surrounding the actions and attitudes that perpetuate violence.
All month, students, faculty, staff and community members have pledged to Take Back the Night by never tolerating interpersonal violence. Even though this pledge is in support of TBTN, working to end interpersonal violence doesn’t stop when the rally and march is over. We can be pro-social bystanders every day!
Being a pro-social bystander means intervening to impact a situation in a positive way. Intervening can look different in a lot of situations. Here are some ways you can safely intervene as a pro-social bystander:
- Be Direct – Maybe someone that you know made a joke that really isn’t appropriate and made others feel uncomfortable. You can directly tell that person that their behavior or language is concerning.
- Bring in the Professionals – Some situations may be outside of your ability to intervene, like an argument at a party that’s escalating. If things become too serious, contact emergency personnel.
- Make a distraction- Distractions can help safely deescalate a situation. You can divert attention away from the problem by bringing up a recent class topic, asking your friend to leave or suggesting a different activity.
- Make it personal – Sometimes a person will better understand their behavior or language isn’t acceptable when it’s related to their friend’s or peer’s personal experiences.
- Show support – If you see someone who is affected by another person’s behavior or language, show your support. Let them know that you’re there for them if they need help or assistance.
Remember, every person has their own comfort levels and style of communication. There’s no correct way to intervene in any given situation. Feel free to practice these strategies to make you feel safe and comfortable when it’s time to intervene.
For more information on Take Back the Night and ways to be a pro-social bystander, visit the Office of Health Promotion website.