Green Dot Bystander Intervention @ Bates College
“Nobody has to do everything… everyone has to do something. What’s your Green Dot?”
What is Green Dot?
Green Dot is a nationally-recognized bystander intervention program founded by Dorothy Edwards, Ph.D. at the
University of Kentucky. Green Dot is rooted in the social change theory literature and has been tested
empirically. Green Dot focuses on eradicating power based personal violence – specifically sexual assault,
dating violence, and stalking. However, the tenets of Green Dot can be applied to interventions for behaviors
ranging from inappropriate language, to dorm damage, and overconsumption of alcohol. It utilizes peer to peer
influence to shift community expectations and create and support two social norms:
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Violence will not be tolerated in this community
Everyone is expected to do their part
Green Dot not only serves as a reactive form of bystander intervention, but works proactively to challenge and
change cultural norms to prevent violence before it occurs.
To learn more about the research behind Green Dot, feel free to visit this link with research funded by the
Center for Disease Control and Department of Education: http://www.livethegreendot.com/gd_evalasses.html
Some of what we know about the impact of Green Dot at Bates
With the support of Bates students, faculty, and staff, 291 students have participated in the 5-hour Green Dot
Certification, over 1,500 students have attended a 1-hour Green Dot Overview, and 108 Faculty/Staff members
have attended the 2-hour Faculty/Staff Training. All incoming students last year and this year will have
completed a modified interactive overview session.
Relationship to Violence: Of students participating in the training, 80% disclosed that they had an act of power
based personal violence committed against them, 75% knew someone who had been affected by power based
personal violence, 79% knew someone who had experienced stalking, 89% knew someone who experienced
dating/ domestic violence, and 84% knew someone who had experienced sexual violence.
Bystander Experience Prior to Training: 80% of students had seen situations of power based personal violence
where they “thought they should do something but chose not to” and 60% of the students had been “in a
situation involving power based personal violence and needed a bystander to help, but bystanders did not”
60% felt hopeful that they could do something about the violence
After Training: From multiple assessments, nearly all (96%) felt hopeful that they could do something about
power-based personal violence and 100% reported that they planned on doing at least one proactive Green Dot
within the next week. When asked in a follow-up weeks to months later about actual behaviors, students who
had completed the 5-hour Green Dot training were twice as likely to have actually intervened than others not
trained. One student reported, “I feel like I still recognize the same [warning signs] but I feel more agency to
act.”
So what can you do as a faculty member?
Within just a few seconds, you can show your commitment to student safety and bystander intervention,
contributing to campus norms. With repeated exposures across settings, students and colleagues will have
reinforcement for the expectation that everyone has a part in keeping our community safe. Here are a few
specific ideas:
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do the 2-hour faculty training (first one: Thursday October 13th, 4-6pm!) Sign up by visiting:
http://www.bates.edu/campus/greendot/faculty-staff-green-dot-training-sign-up/
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give assignments such as a research paper or exam essay question on bystander intervention or some
other aspect of preventing sexual violence
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positively affirm students wearing Green Dot gear or bringing up Green Dot to you
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state on your syllabi that violence is not accepted and everyone is expected to do their part
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have class discussions about issues of domestic or dating violence if they are themes in readings you
assign
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invite a Green Dot trainer to come into your class or cover a class if you’re off at a conference
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talk to your academic department about how to support your students as bystanders, support survivors
and improve safety for positive outcomes in the classroom
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have rotating bystander tips on a slide deck in the beginning of your class while students are walking in
(we can provide this to you)
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offer the 5-hour Student Certification Training as a component of your class or extra credit
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ask for help coming up with further ideas—we’ve got many more of them and really want to share!
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remember that you don't have to do everything or even a big thing, but you’ve got to do something
Learning Objectives for Green Dot at Bates College:
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Community members will be able to identify warning signs of high-risk or potentially harmful situations
Community members will be able to identify personal obstacles that prevent them from intervening in
high-risk or potentially harmful situations
Community members will be able to effectively demonstrate the direct, distract, and delegate strategies
to reactively intervene in high-risk situations
Community members will be able to perform proactive Green Dots that communicate violence
prevention is a value on the Bates Campus
Learn more about Green Dot and Green Dot Opportunities at Bates by visiting www.bates.edu/greendot
For further questions, please contact:
Blake Reilly, Assistant Director of Residence Life, [email protected]
Su Langdon, Program Coordinator, DOJ Campus Grant to Reduce Sexual Violence, [email protected]