Bystander Intervention - Title IX Student Services

UMaine Alert

Posted: April 19, 2024 - 1:32 PM

At approximately 9:24 a.m. on Friday, April 19, a University of Maine graduate student was struck by a university vehicle on Long Road at the University of Maine campus in Orono. The student reports that they are at a local hospital with minor injuries.

Emergency services, including the Orono Fire Department, University Volunteer Ambulance Corps, University of Maine Police Department, Orono Police Department and Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.

The university vehicle involved in the incident was a Chevrolet Express van. It was being operated by a university employee.

Counseling services and support are available for students, faculty or staff who may have been affected. The Counseling Center can be reached at 207-581-1392 and the Dean of Students Office can be reached at 207-581-1406.

The scene has been cleared and Long Road is now accessible. An investigation is being conducted by the University of Maine Police Department with assistance from the Penobscot County Sheriff’s Office Crash Reconstruction Unit. Any witnesses to the incident are encouraged to contact Lt. Noel Santiago at noel.santiago@maine.edu.

Title IX Student Services provides support, advocacy, education, training and prevention programs and services to University of Maine students, community and the wider community in our area. We aim to educate our community of students and staff on how to react to specific situations. We strive to promote a campus of individuals who will use their best judgment to aide in situations, if they are deemed safe for intervention.

Bystander Intervention is recognizing a potentially harmful situation or interaction and choosing to respond in a way that could positively influence the outcome.

Bystander Intervention Model

1. Notice the Incident

Bystanders first must notice the incident taking place. Obviously, if they don’t take note of the situation there is no reason to help.

2. Interpret Incident as Emergency

Bystanders also need to evaluate the situation and determine whether it is an emergency—or at least one in which someone needs assistance. Again, if people do not interpret a situation as one in which someone needs assistance, then there is no need to provide help.

3. Assume Responsibility

Another decision bystanders make is whether they should assume responsibility for giving help. One repeated finding in research studies on helping is that a bystander is less likely to help if there are other bystanders present. When other bystanders are present, responsibility for helping is diffused. If a lone bystander is present they are more likely to assume responsibility.

4. Attempt to Help (See Tips for Intervening)

Whether this is to help the person leave the situation, confront a behavior, diffuse a situation or call for other support/security.

Tips for Intervening

In a situation potentially involving sexual assault, relationship violence or stalking:

Approach everyone as a friend
Do not be antagonistic
Avoid using violence
Be honest and direct whenever possible
Recruit help if necessary
Keep yourself safe
If things get out of hand or become too serious, contact the police

(Source: Sexual Assault and Violence Prevention at Vassar College)

The best way bystanders can assist in creating an empowering climate free of interpersonal violence is to diffuse the problem behaviors before they escalate.

Educate yourself about interpersonal violence AND share this information with friends
Confront friends who make excuses for other peoples’ abusive behavior
Speak up against racist, sexist and homophobic jokes or remarks