Stand Up For Others: Upstanders are Heroes in Real Life

Stand Up For Others

Upstanders are Heroes in Real Life

We can all be heroes. Every day events unfold around us. At some point, we will register someone in danger. When this happens, we will decide to do or say something (and become an upstander), or to simply let it go (and remain a passive bystander).

Recognizing a Potentially Dangerous Situation

Learning to recognize when someone is in danger and how you can intervene safely is an essential skill. Safely intervening could mean anything from a disapproving look, interrupting or distracting someone, not laughing at a sexist or a violent joke, talking to a friend about their behavior in a non-confrontational way to caring for a friend who’s experienced problematic behavior. Other times, it means asking friends, staff, or the police for help.

Upstander Actions Make a Difference

Sometimes, a situation just does not feel right. It might be comments made by a friend that you feel are inappropriate or you spot someone being harassed at a party or club. It could be someone under the influence of alcohol or other drugs, potentially in harm’s way of a sexual assault.

Being an upstander means being aware of when someone’s behavior is inappropriate or threatening and choosing to challenge it. If you do not feel comfortable doing this directly, then get someone to help you such as a friend or someone in authority.

Research shows that upstander intervention can be an effective way of stopping sexual assault before it happens, as upstanders play a key role in preventing, discouraging, and/or intervening when an act of violence has the potential to occur.

Resource Offices at USC that can help:

USC Department of Public Safety:

24/7 phone number 213-740-4321

USC Student Health Counseling Help or Advocate Support for survivors of sexual assault and/or gender-based harm: 24/7 phone number 213-740-4321.

Secure message an advocate through MySHR (https://usc.edu/myshr)

USC EEOTIX Office: The Office for Equity, Equal Opportunity, and Title IX (EEO-TIX) centralizes resources for civil rights education, reporting, and resolution procedures. Phone: 213-740-5086. https://eeotix.usc.edu/

USC Trojans Care for Trojans: Students, faculty and staff can take action when they are concerned about a fellow Trojan challenged with personal difficulties. This private and anonymous request form provides an opportunity for Trojans to help a member of our Trojan Family. https://bit.ly/tc4t

Trojans Act Now!

Upstanders are Heroes in Real Life

R U DISTRACT

DIRECT ACTION OK?

Approach the victim with a reason for them to leave the situation – tell them they need to take a call, or you need to speak to them; any excuse to get them away to safety.

DELEGATE OK? !

Call out negative behavior, tell the person to stop or ask the victim if they are OK. Do this as a group if you can.

D

EBRIEF OK?

Wait for the situation to pass then check in with the people involved to see if they are OK. Or report it later when it’s safe to do so – it’s never too late to act.

Tell someone with the authority to deal with the situation; or call for help.

When we intervene, we signal to the perpetrator that their behavior is unacceptable. If such messages are constantly reinforced within our community, we can shift the boundaries of what is considered acceptable and problem behavior can be stopped.

Learn more in the Trojans Act Now! Prevention Education Module Trojans Act Now! empowers students to intervene when they witness a situation that may lead to gender- and power- based harm including sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence, and sexual assault. Participants will gain skills in identifying potentially risky situations, safely intervene, and help create an inclusive and respectful campus community. 120 minutes.

This is a third-year curricular module of three required live sessions for all USC Students. The years 2 and 3 modules may be taken at any point after the year 1 modules are completed.