University Volume 25 | Issue 9 | Monday 14tH February 2022
Express
UCCExpress.ie
Bystander Intervention Week at UCC
ORLA LEAHY News Editor
include reflections by students and staff who have completed the Bystander Intervention Digital Badge. The Bystander Team have termed the exhibition as, “a stunning mix of poetry, prose, artwork, film and music, demonstrating the impact of the programme.” Visitors to the Boole during the week will have the opportunity to view the reflections at the exhibition space on the ground floor of the Boole Library.
Bystander Intervention Week is set to take place at UCC from Monday, February 14th, to Friday, February 18th. The Bystander Team have stated that the week, “will highlight the issue of gender-based violence and sexual harassment both on and off university campuses.” The last Bystander Intervention Week on UCC’s campus saw the development of a mural on the side of the Boole Library, in 2019, seeking an end to both Other highlights include the Consent Tent, gender-based violence and sexual harassment. where a number of NGOs will be present, in This year’s week will include a variety of events front of the Student Centre, from 12pm to 2pm to raise awareness about gender-based violence daily, to offer support and advice to students and and sexual harassment that occurs both on and staff. Alana Daly Mulligan from the Bystander off UCC’s campus. Professor Louise Crowley Team, has stated that, “it doesn’t matter where has stated that the week functions,“as a really you are on your journey to understanding good platform to raise the profile of not only Bystander Intervention, we will meet you the training in UCC, but the importance of the there, and we want to bring you along the way.” training in UCC, to highlight the really serious Themed focus sessions at 11am daily, “will work and prevalent issue of sexual harassment and to explain and enhance create awareness around violence, and to speak to all people of campus… specific issues, where effective intervention from so that they know they are seen…and that we bystanders can make a significant difference.” recognise this is an issue for our students.” Confirmed guest speakers include, Mary Hayes, One of the highlights of the week will be the who is the ‘Too Into You’ Project Lead at Women’s exhibition in the Boole Library, which will Aid, and will address intimate partner violence. Eve
McDowell, Co-Founder of Stalking.ie will consider stalking awareness, and UCC’s own Professor Louise Crowley, Director of the Bystander Intervention Programme, will discuss the aims and impact of the Bystander Intervention Programme. Professor Crowley notes that the week has been composed, “in a manner that ensures that it is not just the Bystander Team that people can talk to… but we are bringing other support services, a range of them, onto campus…to provide that care, that trauma-informed support to those that may need it.” For students and staff that only have time to attend one event, their time would be best spent taking up the Bystander Training. The week itself functions to, “shine a spotlight on the training”, and the Bystander Team believes that the best possible outcome of the week would be that, “on Friday evening, at 5 o’clock, everyone had taken the training.” The essence of the Bystander Intervention Training, according to Professor Crowley, “is that we are responding, and that we have a responsibility to respond, as a community, so that we can demand Continued on Page 2