The Minister for Higher Education, Mary Mitchell O’Connor T.D. today (28th January 2019) launched the Online Bystander Intervention Programme at University College Cork. The programme was developed by Dr Louise Crowley in the School of Law, UCC.
The programme introduces students to the concept of an ‘active bystander’: someone who recognises an event or behaviour which is objectionable and chooses to do something about it by way of intervention. It does so by educating students to ensure an understanding of the key issues of consent, and the boundaries surrounding sexual assault, rape and abusive relationships. This online programme will now be available to some 22,000 students in UCC.
The Minister said:
Sexual violence is a concern to us all, regardless of where or when it occurs. However, there is something particularly sad about it occurring at a stage in life which should be full of promise for our young people. The third level experience is a period of growth, a time for exploration and the first true experience of independence in a young person’s life. This should not be marred for anyone by the unacceptable behaviour of another.
This programme will help build a culture of zero tolerance to prevent and combat sexual harassment and violence, both on and off campus. I would like to congratulate Dr. Louise Crowley for developing the programme and her colleagues in UCC for rolling it out across the campus. I hope that the learnings from our new initiative will be applicable in all other third level institutions.
Through the programme, students are empowered to safely intervene and demand a safer campus and society with a zero tolerance of sexual harassment in both verbal and physical forms.
In delivering the material to the students in their capacity as bystanders, this programme highlights and addresses the dangers of the social normalisation of abusive behaviour and the importance of an environment which supports safe intervention.
Minster Mitchell O’Connor continued
Making this resource available via an online platform allows for greater levels of participation. The more people who can engage with the programme will help with the attitudinal and cultural changes that are necessary to eradicate the instances of unwanted or inappropriate behaviour that individuals can be subject to.
Minister Mitchell O’Connor convened a work shop in Dublin Castle on the 4th of October 2018, to hear first-hand from institutions, academics and students what was really happening in our higher education institutions with regard to sexual violence and harassment. Shortly after this meeting the Minister set up a working group of which Dr. Louise Crowley is a member. The group is chaired by Dr. Anne Looney from DCU and has been tasked with devising standards that all institutions will be required to implement. The group will report back to the Minister shortly.
As part of the University’s inaugural Bystander Intervention Week, UCC will unveil a mural on Monday, aimed at challenging the prevalence of sexual assault among students at third level. The mural is part of the National Women’s Council of Ireland’s national IT STOPS NOW campaign, and will be pasted to the wall of the Boole library by students.
Notes for Editor
Bystander Intervention Online Programme Module
This module represents a response to the need to develop a range of complementary and strategic responses to the issue of sexual misconduct and violence on campus. The module presents an opportunity to contribute to the University's commitment to the delivery of strong student-focused support services, which address the physical, psychological, spiritual, social, cultural and welfare needs of students, by focusing on the students' transition into UCC, their time in UCC and their transition out of UCC.
A key aspect of this framework is the development of a progressive and effective culture around the issues of sexual misconduct and sexual violence at university. This programme seeks to not only enhance knowledge and understanding, but also to lead to attitude and behavioural change across the university.
In essence it has three aims:
1. Introduce students to the concept of an active bystander; someone who recognises an event or behaviour which is objectionable and chooses to do something about it by way of intervention.
2. Educate students to ensure an understanding of the key issues of consent, and the boundaries surrounding sexual assault, rape and abusive relationships.
3. Empower and upskill students to safely intervene and demand a safer campus and society with a zero tolerance of sexual harassment, in all its forms, both verbal and physical.
The bystander intervention approach is premised upon the fact that as members of society every person is a bystander to many events and is thus often positioned to act or intervene.
Benefits are threefold:
1. Facilitate students to engage with and understand the issues of sexual respect, consent and other key related social challenges often faced by them in the course of student life, both on an individual and on a cross campus cultural basis and to provide them with the tools necessary to actively effect behavioural change through safe and effective interventions.
2. By positioning the student learning in their capacity as bystanders, students can recognise their role as pro social bystanders with a capacity to better understand their own behaviour and views of acceptable social norms.
3. A final key aspect of this framework is the development of a progressive, effective campus culture around the issues of sexual respect, sexual assault and consent, enhanced by an improved engagement amongst all students on these issues with a shared aim of securing a safer campus.