Dickinson College is committed to providing the campus community with various programs throughout the academic year, including primary prevention and awareness programs directed to all incoming students and new employees, and ongoing programs to educate people about recognizing and preventing dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking.
During Orientation, staff members collaborate to deliver presentations on awareness and prevention information, including a clear message that no form of sexual misconduct and gender-based discrimination is tolerated at Dickinson College. Also discussed are definitions of dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking; information on consent and the role of alcohol/drugs during sexual activity; amnesty; how to report an incident formally, confidentially or anonymously; available accommodations and support services on and off-campus; risk-reduction and victim empowerment; and bystander intervention tips.
The Office of Public Safety administers an online module to all incoming first-year students to address sexual misconduct prevention. The Office of Human Resources administers an online module to all new employees and provides in-person sessions on mandatory reporting, awareness of and prevention of sexual misconduct.
Partners
We partner with a number of staff members on campus and partners off campus, including the YWCA and DVS, to conduct primary prevention, awareness and ongoing programs intended to stop dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking before they occur through the promotion of positive and healthy relationships and sexuality. We further deliver programs that encourage safe bystander intervention and seek to change behavior and social norms in healthy and safe directions.
Educational Programming
Educational programming is coordinated by the offices of the vice president and dean of student life, human resources, student leadership and campus engagement, public safety and residential life and housing as well as the Wellness Center, the Women’s and Gender Resource Center, athletics, the Title IX coordinator and student organizations (e.g., peer educators). Individual students and organizations at Dickinson take on initiatives to design and deliver campuswide communications and programs, including “It’s on Us” videos and “Take Back the Night” events.
Bystander Intervention
Dickinson College is committed to providing initial and ongoing education about bystander intervention. Preventing sexual and gender-based misconduct requires a commitment from all members of the college campus community. We can work together to uphold the values of civility, respect and accountability through intervening early in a situation that may evolve into sexual misconduct, harassment or relationship violence. Below are some tips on how to intervene and support the college community:
- Be aware of your environment: Notice when someone is crossing a line. Pay attention to the verbal and physical signals between people.
- Assess the situation: Remember, your personal safety and the safety of others is the No. 1 priority. If you or others are not safe, you should call authorities immediately.
Options for Intervening
Indirect Action
- Tell another friend, host or bartender that someone has had too much to drink and ask for help in stopping the situation.
- Call authorities.
Direct Action
- Check in with your friend by asking if everything is okay; this simple interruption may change the course of the situation.
- Talk to the person directly about any problematic behavior and try to de-escalate the situation.
- Intervene with the support of additional friends.
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