Active Bystander Intervention

Everyone Has a Role in Campus Safety

At Glen Oaks Community College, creating a safe, respectful campus is a shared responsibility. Active bystander intervention empowers students, employees, and visitors to recognize concerning behavior and take safe, appropriate action before harm occurs.

You do not need to have all the answers. Small, thoughtful actions can make a meaningful difference.

What Is an Active Bystander?

An active bystander is someone who notices a potentially harmful situation and chooses to respond in a way that prioritizes safety, dignity, and respect. This approach helps prevent sexual harassment, sexual violence, discrimination, and other forms of misconduct.

Active bystander intervention supports a campus culture where everyone looks out for one another.

How to Be an Active Bystander

1. Stay Aware of Your Surroundings

Pay attention to what is happening around you. Trust your instincts if a situation feels uncomfortable or unsafe. Many incidents are preventable because someone noticed early warning signs.

2. Recognize Concerning Behavior

Be alert to behaviors that cross boundaries, show signs of coercion, or make someone appear distressed or unsafe. Recognizing a problem is the first step toward prevention.

3. Accept Responsibility to Act

It is easy to assume someone else will step in. Active bystander intervention starts when individuals choose to take responsibility rather than look away.

4. Make a Plan

Pause and assess the situation. Consider the safest and most effective way to help. Intervention does not have to be confrontational to be effective.

5. Intervene Safely

Take action without putting yourself or others in danger. Safe intervention might include creating a distraction, checking in with someone privately, seeking help, or contacting campus resources.

Safe Ways to Intervene

You can intervene in different ways depending on the situation:

  • Distract by interrupting the situation or redirecting attention
  • Delegate by getting help from friends, staff, or campus safety
  • Direct by calmly addressing the behavior if it feels safe to do so
  • Delay by checking in with the person afterward and offering support

There is no single right way to intervene. What matters most is choosing safety and respect.

Campus Support and Reporting Options

If you witness or experience concerning behavior, Glen Oaks offers confidential and supportive resources. Reporting concerns helps protect individuals and strengthens campus safety.

Related resources include:

If someone is in immediate danger, contact local emergency services right away.

Commitment to a Safe Campus

Active bystander intervention aligns with the college’s commitment to integrity, respect, and student-centered support. By staying aware and taking action when it is safe to do so, you help create a learning environment where everyone can succeed.