Prevention Education

All members of the College community have a part to play in creating a safe, welcoming, and respectful campus environment free from harassment, discrimination, and violence for all. When harm plays out, we know that there is almost always someone present, at some point, who is in a position to intervene. This means that everyone can take steps to prevent, intervene, and help reduce the risk of interpersonal and sexual harm playing out. The suggestions that follow are intended to help keep all members of the campus community play an active role in caring for oneself, caring for one another, and keeping our community safe.

Common barriers individuals may experience when observing a concerning situation:

• Diffusion of responsibility - in group settings, we believe others will act and may not take personal responsibility 
• Conformity - if others aren’t acting, we may go along with established group norms that may accept the behaviors. Similarly, however, if others are taking action – others are more likely to step in. 
• Ambiguity – it may not be clear whether there is a problem, or whether help is needed. 
• Relationships – a common concern when intervening when a friend, family, or colleague is involved is potentially harming the relationship with that person. 
• Power or Status - if there is an imbalance of power between the person potentially causing harm and experiencing harm (e.g., supervisor and employee), common concerns of taking action may include fears of retaliation and possible impact on opportunities or reputation.

In any situation, there are factors that influence if someone will provide help:

• Individual variables (of the potential bystander) such as knowledge/skills, confidence, skills, confidence, sense of social responsibility. 
• Situational variables, such as severity of need, number of other bystander’s present, bystanders present, cost of helping. 
• Victim variables, such as appearance of victim, friendship with victim, perceived deservedness, whether they accept help, etc.  

Identify Safe and Effective Intervention Options

Below are what’s commonly referred to as the Five D’s of Bystander Intervention options. An effective intervention may involve a combination of the below intervention strategies

• Direct – Approach the person of concern and ask if they are okay or if they need help, or directly address the person responsible for the concerning behaviors. 
• Delegate – Ask a friend, family member, or someone in a position of authority, to intervene directly and/or call for help. 
• Distract – There are endless ways to create a distraction. Strike up a conversation about something random, suggest a change of venue, or anything else which safely interrupts the concerning situation and allows the individual(s) of concern to safely get away from the situation. 
• Delay – Whether or not you act in the moment, you can still make a difference after an incident by checking in, asking how you can help, and/or offering resources to the person(s) involved. 
• Document – If someone is already helping the person, and you are safe, record a video of the incident at a safe distance. Give the video of the recording to the victim and let them choose if and how they want to share it or use it. Documenting emails, texts, and other online platforms where harm may play out can also be helpful and should similarly be shared with the victim. 

Distinct approaches work for different people, in different circumstances. Regardless of the intervention technique used take action, balancing safety and intervention : 

• Safety comes first always. Do not intervene in a way that may cause you or harm to other people involved.
• Enlist others and get them involved in the intervention.
• Intervene at the earliest point possible so that harm does not escalate.
• Interpret what you are seeing as a problem. If you are not sure if there is a problem, assume there is and ask questions. See if others are concerned, or if the person(s) need help.
• Assume personal responsibility for the situation. Know that if you don’t step up, no one else might. If you do act, that can motivate others to act as well.
• Put into action one or more of the above strategies that considers your safety as well as the safety of others involved. 

Promote Healthy Relationships & Choices 

• Look out for your friends and ask them to look out for you. Stay connected to you and your friend’s surrounding environment without the distraction of headphones or looking at your phone. Stick with your friends throughout the night. Watch each other’s beverages if you are drinking. Respect one another but be willing to confront a high-risk situation.
• Designate a driver ahead of time. If you’re using a ride share app, travel home together with a friend. If you notice a friend is particularly intoxicated, go with them to make sure they get home safely.
• Take extra safety steps with dating online. Block users that make you feel uncomfortable. Do not share any personally identifying information. Consider video chatting before meeting in person. Keep the conversation on the app rather than moving to text. Arrange to meet at and stay in a public place. Arrange and have control over your transportation. Bring a friend or share with them what your plans are.
• Communicate clearly and as early as possible (ideally before engaging in intimate relationships or sexual activity) about physical boundaries, relationship goals, and sexual preferences. Ask your partner(s) to share their preferences with you and share yours with them.
• If you notice a friend is very intoxicated and/or being pressured to drink or use drugs try to remove them from the situation, get them food or water, and get them.
• If you notice a friend is pressuring someone to drink or use drugs intervene and let that person know that they are past their limits. 

Establish & Maintain Ongoing Consent

• Communicate clearly, early, and firmly as possible. Before and during sexual activity, communicate what you are and are not comfortable with. If you are uncertain if you are comfortable with certain sexual activity, you have the right to stop at any time.
• If you receive a “no", accept it and don’t push for a yes. A forced or pressured yes is not consensual.
• Always ask for clear permission and consent and don't proceed without it. If you have questions or are unclear, you don’t have consent.
• Don’t make assumptions about consent, whether someone is attracted to you, how far you can go with that person, or if the individual is physically and mentally able to consent.
• If you and/or your partner may be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, even if you and/or your partner voluntarily consumed the drugs or alcohol, one or both of you may not be able to provide or receive consent. Alcohol and drugs impair judgment and decision-making skills.
• Stop and address mixed messages or mixed feelings. Don’t assume, without talking about it, that you know what your partner(s) is comfortable with. Mixed messages are a clear indication to stop and talk about what you and/or your partner wants/doesn’t want to happen. You or they may be undecided about how far to go, or one of you may have misread a previous signal.
• Silence or passivity is not an indication of consent. To avoid misreading intentions, and to clearly convey your consent and interest, pay attention to, ask for, and utilize both verbal and non-verbal signals to convey and receive consent.
• Fear or intimidation can potentially be caused by sex, physical size, or a position of power or authority. Differences in power, intimidation, and verbal or physical coercion can create conditions that are not consensual.
• Consent is clear, ongoing, and specific. Consent to one type of sexual behavior does not automatically grant consent to other types of sexual behaviors. If you or your partner are unsure, stop, ask, and discuss with your partner one another’s boundaries and preferences.
• Everyone has the right to stop or withdraw consent, at any time - before or during sexual activity. If you or your partner indicates a need to stop, that should be respected, immediately.
• Previous consent to sexual activity is not ongoing consent. Being in a relationship also doesn’t mean you or your partner consent every time you or they initiate going forward. It’s necessary to keep talking about sexual boundaries, asking for permission, and checking in during sex. 
   

Risk Reduction
 

Notice that our definition of risk reduction includes giving bystanders tools to overcome barriers that might lead them not to intervene, so all the tips provided are not just bystander intervention strategies, but can also be considered risk reduction behaviour. It is up to us as a community to look out for one another and create the safe environment all our students and employees deserve. 

While on campus: 

• Be aware of what is going on around you at all times. If possible, don't wear headphones or be distracted by texting or talking on the phone. 
• Walk on well-traveled and well populated routes when moving around campus. At night, take routes that you are familiar with, and when possible, take a friend. Campus Police provides safety escorts to students and staff if requested. You can contact Campus Police at (626) 585-7484. 

While off campus:

• If you have a car, park in a safe, well-lit location and remember to always lock your vehicle.
• If you are uncomfortable with a situation or people involved, trusting your instincts and taking action or getting help to increase your sense of safety and empowerment.
• Not engaging intimately with someone who may have over-consumed alcohol or drugs. If you or your friends are attending social events or parties:
• More than 90% of sexual assaults that occur among college students involve people who know each other, and the majority involves the use of alcohol or other drugs.
• Drinking and drug use can impair judgment. Trust your instincts. If you feel Uncomfortable or unsafe about a person or situation, trust your gut and feel Empowered to remove yourself from the situation.
• If you drink, drinking responsibly: Consider eating a full meal before going out, have a glass of water between each drink, know your limits and don’t go beyond them.
• Have a designated driver, and don’t let anyone else make the decision of how much you will drink.
• Only drinking something that you have poured yourself or that comes in a pre-sealed container. Premixed drinks can have more alcohol in them than you might want to drink. Also, drugs like Rohypnol and GHB are being dissolved in drinks, causing the person who consumes the beverage to lose consciousness quickly. Don’t drink something that has been left unattended.
• Not going anywhere with someone you don’t know well. If you do leave a party with a new friend, tell the friends you came with where you are going and when you are coming back.
• When on a date, letting someone you trust know whom you are with and where you are going, and when you expect to get home.
• Make sure your date understands the rules of verbal and sober consent and that you have that consent before engaging in any sexual behavior.
• Having a designated driver. If you are the designated driver for the evening, stay sober and be responsible for your less-than-sober friends.
• Getting involved if you believe that someone is at risk. If you see someone in trouble or someone pressuring another person, don’t be afraid to intervene.
• Clearly communicate your intentions to the other person and give them a chance to clearly communicate their intentions to you.
• Listen carefully. Take time to hear what the other person has to say. If you feel you are receiving unclear or conflicting messages from the other person, you should stop, defuse any sexual tension, and communicate clearly.
• Do not assume that you have consent to sexual activity just because someone leaves or goes to a private location with you. Understand and respect personal boundaries and do not make assumptions about consent. Do not pressure a potential partner.
• Consider that your potential partner could be intimidated by you or be fearful. You may have a power advantage simply because of your gender, status, or size.
• Understand that consent to one form of sexual activity does not constitute consent for any other sexual activity.
• Silence and passivity cannot be interpreted as an indication of consent. Read the other person carefully, paying attention to verbal and non-verbal communication and body language. If it is not clear by the other person’s words and/or actions that they are a willing participant in that specific activity, then stop and have a conversation.