Effective Intervention

UAlbany students gather to promote the new "positive bystander" initiative.

ALBANY, N.Y. (October 3, 2016) — Sexual violence is occurring at an alarming rate on college campuses across the nation, but it doesn’t have to on our campus.

In honor of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, join the campus community to learn how to become empowered to be a positive bystander. We will officially launch this exciting community-wide initiative this week on all three campuses:

• Uptown Campus on Wednesday, noon to 3 p.m., by the Small Fountain
• Downtown Campus on Friday, noon to 2 p.m., in the Husted Café
• Health Sciences Campus on Friday, noon to 2 p.m., in the School of Public Health lobby

What is a positive bystander?

A positive bystander is someone equipped with the tools to safely and effectively intervene in violent situations, potentially violent situations, and behaviors that contribute to the culture in which violence frequently occurs.

The Sexual Violence Prevention Project team, led by Title IX Coordinator Chantelle Cleary and Director of the Advocacy Center for Sexual Violence Carol Stenger has developed a strategic plan to empower 25 percent of our students to become positive bystanders. All student athletes and student leaders will undergo mandatory bystander intervention training, with 90-minute training sessions offered on a weekly basis to the entire University community.

Training participants will also be asked to take the Great Dane JustAsk pledge to affirm their commitment to changing the culture of sexual violence.

Join your fellow students, faculty and staff this week to learn more about this community-wide initiative. There will be registration stations for students to sign up for empowered bystander training sessions; opportunities to speak with peers who have participated in empowered bystander training; a photo booth, “empowered bystander” temporary tattoos, giveaways and design-your-own cupcakes.

The bystander training continues the critical conversation started by UAlbany’s JustAsk campaign launched last September to raise awareness about sexual violence prevention.

Domestic Violence Month Programming

In addition, the Sexual Violence Prevention Project team has developed programming to honor the issue of domestic violence. Some of the events include:

• Thursday, Oct., 6: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Project SHAPE exhibit on relationship violence on the LC Concourse
• Monday, Oct., 10: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Project SHAPE exhibit on healthy relationships on the LC concourse
• Wednesday, Oct., 26: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Project SHAPE exhibit on healthy communication with a partner in the Campus Center lobby
• Thursday, Oct., 20: 7 p.m. “Equalogy” - back by popular demand! Interactive theatre performance on intimate partner violence in the Campus Center Ballroom
• Saturday, Oct.,29: Interactive exhibit and pledge at football game vs. Elon – giveaways at the Tom & Mary Casey Stadium

Check the UAlbany events calendar for a full listing of October events.

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