Bystander Intervention & Safety Tips
Watch Video: Bystander Intervention Video for Students by K-State
Look out for your fellow K-State Community members. Active bystander intervention discourages attitudes and behaviors that support sexual assault and other harmful behavior. When you witness a potential sexual assault or other behavior that promotes a culture of violence, don’t assume someone else will help or that it’s none of your business; speak up, step in and seek help.
- What is bystander prevention?
- Bystander prevention is a long-term process that requires change at various levels of the university community to prevent intimate partner violence and sexual violence before they occur. This can be achieved through educational programming and training for students, faculty and staff.
- Who is a Bystander?
- A bystander is a witness or spectator who is present during a potentially dangerous situation. You can be a bystander in a public place such as a pub or bar, or you might be a bystander in a residence hall or classroom.
- When is bystander intervention needed?
- Bystander intervention is needed whenever a bystander witnesses potentially harmful conduct, such as behavior that may lead to sexual violence. It is important to determine how you will intervene, or if you will have someone else intervene in the situation.
- Always make your safety and the well-being of others a priority.
- Why should we engage bystanders to intervene?
- Preventing sexual violence involves community participation.
- Reverse the "bystander effect," by speaking up, intervening or asking others to do so.
- How can you be an upstanding bystander?
- Your choice to do something in the moment could make our community a safer place.
- You can speak up and step up to confront the situation or cause a distraction or you can seek help from someone else. Whatever strategy you choose, it should be what you feel comfortable doing.
