Being an Active Bystander Might Be More Important Now Than Ever

As UC Irvine faculty and staff quickly transition into new modes of learning, teaching, and communicating, we are bound to find ourselves with some new challenges as community members and leaders. Navigating these new spaces can be difficult and the screens that divide us may leave us feeling distant or isolated in our make-shift home offices. It is vital during times of uncertainty like these, where major social changes are happening, that we maintain our roles as leaders and role models for our students and colleagues.

As we are all too aware, acts of violence, harassment, and discrimination are not limited to in-person interactions or to our physical campus. Within the digital spaces we occupy, hate speech, threats, and harassment are observed daily. By being an active bystander within these spaces, we are helping to set norms that say “this is not okay” and that communicate support to those who are affected by these acts. By being an active digital bystander, we are communicating that we will work to keep our communities safe wherever they exist.

Being an active digital bystander doesn’t have to be complicated, here are some easy ways that we can all help to foster safer online environments and support those affected by acts of violence:

Direct:

• If you notice concerning behavior or language, take direct action by asking the individual to stop. Communicate that the behavior or language is not welcome is this space.
• If you have the ability, remove the individual from the space (e.g. Zoom meeting, online game, Facebook group, etc.)
• Check-in with the individual who was on the receiving end of the behavior. Remind them that it is not their fault, and offer to provide support or connect them to resources if needed.

Distract:

• Create distraction to take attention away from the behavior such as asking unrelated questions to others in the space.

Delegate:

• Block the individual and report them to the platform on which the concerning behavior occurred (Facebook, Instagram, online game client, etc.)
• If the individual is another staff or faculty member and the behavior takes place within the capacity of their position, contact their supervisor and request that they will initiate a conversation about the behavior.

Be a pro-active digital bystander! We don’t have to wait for a concerning behavior to happen in front of us. We have a unique opportunity as we transition into digital spaces to role model lessons on consent, boundaries, and appropriate behavior. Here are some tips to communicate your intolerance for acts of violence and your support to those affected by violence:

• Set mutually-accepted expectations for your meetings, classes, and other group spaces that ensure the safety and comfort of everyone.
• Share resources and handouts about bystander intervention and supporting survivors of violence with students and colleagues.
• Talk to others about why bystander intervention online is important.
• Share UCI CARE social media posts and stories.
• Have conversations with others about boundaries and how consent and boundaries might look different given the current climate (e.g. conversations on expectations of others, how our behavior affects others, etc.)
• Attend educational webinars and online programs that focus on the topics of sexual violence and harassment. Encourage others around you to do the same!

As we transition into new spaces, we must keep in mind our Responsible Employee reporting requirements and how these might look slightly different than normal for some of us. A student may mention an instance of violence or harassment in a Zoom meeting, on a discussion board, a class chat, in an assignment, or through email. While these are not in-person methods of disclosure, they still prompt Responsible Employees to submit a report to the Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity (OEOD). Here are some tips on how to convey your reporting responsibilities to students and fulfill your responsibilities in a way that is sensitive to the needs of those who have experienced trauma:

• Add a disclaimer to your syllabus or Canvas page letting students know that if they were to disclose an instance of sexual violence or harassment to you directly or indirectly (through an assignment, in response to a classmate on a discussion board, etc.) you would be required to report it to the OEOD as a Responsible Employee.
• Take some time in crafting any statements you make about your reporting requirements to students, be sure to communicate your willingness to support them and provide confidential resources such as the UCI CARE office and Waymakers (24/7 hotline, 949–831–9110).
• If a student does disclose an instance of violence or harassment to you, be supportive, believe them, and provide them with confidential resources.
• When reporting to the OEOD, keep the student in the loop. Let them know that you need to submit a report, ask them if they have a preference between receiving resources from you or from OEOD. Ask if they want to be contacted by OEOD or not. Respect their answers and communicate their preferences to OEOD when reporting.
• Keep in mind as we transition into spending significantly more time in our homes, that home might not be the safest or most comfortable space for everyone and some may need a little more support right now.

In this period of uncertainty and transition, keep in mind your power to make a difference as a staff or faculty member. Also keep in mind, as we all strive to support our students and one another, that you are not alone in this. Take time to care for yourself in whatever way that feels best. Note that UCI CARE is still providing remote services to students, staff, and faculty which can be accessed by calling (949) 824–7273 or emailing care@uci.edu.