Why don’t we always step in whenever we feel that an act of power based personal violence has either happened or might potentially happen? All of us have some sort of barrier that prevents us from taking action. Here are a few common ones to show that no one is alone in having barriers:
- Being non-confrontational
- Thinking someone else will step in and intervene
- Fear of physical retaliation
- Being unsure of the situation
- Fear of escalating the conflict
The important thing is to acknowledge our barriers so we can identify ways to work around them and help others.
In the moment
When presented with a situation that has the potential of turning into an act of power based personal violence, here are some of the ways that you can intervene:
- If I hear someone yelling and fighting, I call FSUPD.
- If I see someone grab, push or verbally abuse another person, I say something to them or go get help or get someone else to.
- I make sure all of my friends get home safe from a party.
- If I see yelling or fighting, I distract them by spilling something between them.
Note: it is always important to take into account your personal safety when deciding which intervention method you want to use.
Proactive Green Dots
The great thing about green dots is that they can be performed without waiting for a potential red dot to occur. These actions preventively turn the campus culture towards one of bystander intervention:
- Have a conversation with a friend or coworker about Green Dot and why ending the culture of power based personal violence is important to you.
- Write a paper or do a class assignment on violence prevention.
- Change your e-mail signature line to include the statement, “Proud to be a supporter of Green Dot” and include the link to Florida State University’s Green Dot website.
- Encourage friends and coworkers to attend violence prevention events.
Attend a Bystander Training Session
FSU Green Dot hosts Bystander Trainings periodically throughout the fall, spring and summer semesters. This interactive training seeks to empower participants to discover ways to be active bystanders and create a community that does not tolerate violence and recognizes that we all have a role to play in ending it. For information on the next scheduled training and how to sign up, contact Nell Robinson.