September 28, 2014

By Isabella Alves

The Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center hosted a Green Dot Conference on Saturday to educate students, faculty and staff about preventing sexual and relationship violence.

More than 30 participants gathered in the Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center for a day filled with learning about “high risk” situations and optimism that such situations can be prevented.

The purpose of the conference was to educate participants about preventing “red dots” — situations in which harm could come to another person — by facilitating “green dots,” which are actions that prevent the red dots from occurring.

Participants were encouraged to become reactive bystanders to prevent violent incidents through direct confrontation, distraction or delegation.

Interactive activities and videos showed participants realistic red dot situations and how they could turn the situation into a green dot.

Bryan Goers, one of the instructors at the conference, said the average MU student wants to help make the world a better place and that acts of sexual violence overshadow those good deeds.

“I’m tired of the (sexual violence) taking over the acts of good that other people do … the acts of one person overshadow the good that the other students do,” he said. “I want to change that through Green Dot.”

Danica Wolf, coordinator of the RSVP Center, said educating students about the Green Dot program is vital to its success.

Sophomore Haley Allen said she initially did not know very much about the Green Dot program. But throughout the conference she said she became more knowledgeable about red dot situations and became more confident that students can make a difference on campus through Green Dot.

Sophomore Jake Meyers said he learned a lot from the conference and wished more people would participate in Green Dot programs.

“I think it’s a great experience,” Meyers said. “I just wish there was a way to make it required university-wide.”

Goers said the most important point stressed during the conference was to not be afraid to speak out against something that does not feel right.

“If you see something that makes you uncomfortable you should say something,” Goers said. “I think that students should know that there’re a lot of resources and things you can do in these cycles of violence (in order to prevent it).”

Green Dot training is not only available at the annual conference, but year-round to any student organization that makes a request with the RSVP Center.