WELLWVU is giving students the opportunity to lead peers and take action for a non-violent culture on campus by hosting three “Green Dot” bystander intervention trainings this semester.

The trainings will cover topics such as warning signs of various kinds of violence, strategies for intervening to help keep others safe, skill building and communication, bystander dynamics and experience based practice.

“Given the high rates of sexual assault and dating violence that occur at colleges and universities all over the nation, schools have to be proactive in their efforts to make their campuses safer,” said Wesley Thomas, WELLWVU male engagement specialist. “Bystander intervention programs for students reflect WVU’s commitment to promoting a safer environment.”

Green Dot is a non-profit organization developed upon the premise of reducing power-based personal violence by facilitating a change in culture—an international movement comprised of three basic components:
A single choice in one moment in time to use your voice, actions or choices to make one small corner of the world safer; a shared vision that creates momentum through the power of a common language and purpose; and, a social movement that harnesses the power of peer influence and individual bystander choices to create lasting culture change resulting in the ultimate reduction of power-based personal violence.

“Along with intervening in risky situations, students can affect the culture just by having conversations with friends and peers or by using social media, making it clear where they stand on the issue,” Thomas said. “Student have the ability to influence the attitudes of their peers and this can make a big impact on culture change.”

Trainings are free and will be held in the Mountainlair from 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on September 27, October 25 and November 8, 2015. WELLWVU will provide materials and food. Students completing the trainings will be eligible for community service hours through www.iserve.wvu.edu.

For more information or to preregister, students can contact Wesley Thomas at Wthomas2@mail.wvu.edu or 304.293.3573.

-WVU-

ta/9/21/15

CONTACT: Wesley Thomas, WELLWVU
304-293-3573, wthomas2@mail.wvu.edu

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