Long before the White House released its report last April on sexual assaults on college campuses, UALR was taking measures to mitigate incidences of violence and sexual assaults through a program called Green Dot.

While now more than 50 institutions of higher education across the country have implemented the Green Dot program, UALR was the first and is still the only Arkansas school investing resources to host the program on a university campus.

As part of Campus Safety Awareness Month, UALR has scheduled another Green Dot Bystander Training from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, in Ledbetter rooms B and C of the Donaghey Student Center.

The training session is for students only, but a faculty and staff version will be held from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in Ledbetter rooms B and C.

For the bystander training on Sept. 20, a continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided.

For information, call 501.683.7160 or email greendot@ualr.edu.

“As a student, I enjoyed attending an interactive program where you learn how to help stop violence in such a positive way,” said junior Talethe Collins, a Chancellor’s Leadership Corps Scholar who has completed the Green Dot training.

“We can all make a difference in society, but it truly starts with us,” she said.

The comprehensive approach to violence prevention uses the power of peer and cultural influence to target all community members as potential bystanders. It engages through awareness, education, and skills practice.

Mia Phillips of the UALR Chancellors’ Office said the training teaches students to safely intervene in situations that might be dangerous, whether sexual assault or a domestic altercation, bullying, or child abuse.

“It teaches students why they are sometimes hesitant to intervene,” said Phillips. “Those fears are legitimate, but we teach them how to overcome those.”

Three components to training

Conceptually, Green Dot is comprised of three basic components:

1. A single choice in one moment in time for a person to use his or her voice, actions, or choices to make one small corner of the world safer.
2. A shared vision that creates momentum through the power of a common language and purpose.
3. A social movement that harnesses the power of peer influence and individual bystander choices to create lasting culture change resulting in the ultimate reduction of power-based personal violence.
4. Green Dot is part of UALR’s umbrella effort to ensure compliance with Title IX legislation. Title IX was created in 1972 to prevent persons from being denied benefits or subjected to discrimination on the basis of sex.

One example of the protections under Title IX include the fact that a student who is assaulted cannot be retaliated against, or forced to go to the same classes, as the alleged perpetrator of the crime.

Reports suggest nearly one in every five women is sexually assaulted on campus, and some studies indicate nearly 60 percent of accusers are freshmen.

“Title IX requires education, response and resolution,” said Paula Casey, chair of the Title IX committee at UALR.

“UALR is focused on making sure all three of those legs of the same stool are in place so that our students feel safe and protected.”

If UALR students or employees have emergencies, call 911 or University Police at 501.569.3400.

Counseling services are also available at 501.569.3185.

To seek assistance with Title IX concerns or complaints, a form is available at ualr.edu/chancellor/titleix, or email titleixcomplaint@ualr.edu. The UALR Title IX coordinator, Annette Tangye, may be reached at 501.569.3181.

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