Birkam Health Center 217
1019 Campus Dr.
Big Rapids, MI 49307
[email protected]
Recognize & Respond
Being a prosocial bystander means to positively intervene in a situation to attempt to minimize the harm. We all have a role on our campus to intervene in potentially harmful situations.
Ways to Intervene (The 5 D's)
Direct
Directly calling out the harm. Ex) If a friend made a rape joke, you could directly call them out.
Distract
Indirectly getting someone away from the harm. If you see someone at a bar that looks uncomfortable, you could walk up to them and ask them where the restroom is, to remove them from the danger without directly calling out the harmful behavior.
Document
Taking photos, videos, screenshots, or writing down what has happened. ALWAYS check in with the victim before doing something with the evidence
Delegate
Getting someone of a higher authority to intervene for you, or getting multiple people to intervene with you. Getting an RA to intervene in a potentially harmful situation rather than yourself.
Delay
This happens after the harm has occurred. The delay tactic involves supporting the survivor. Your friends are making rape jokes, and you know that one of the members of the group is a survivor. You take that friend aside and check in with them to see if they are doing alright.