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See Something. Do Something.

 At UNT, our bystander intervention program, Protect Our Nest, empowers students, faculty, and staff to be vigilant and proactive when harmful situations arise. Through comprehensive educational programming and events, we understand that we all play a role to create a safer, more supportive community.

What is a Bystander Intervention Program?

A bystander intervention program teaches us the importance of taking action to reduce harm. Whether you're on campus, at an event or in a residence hall, recognizing and addressing potentially harmful situations is crucial. Our program trains individuals to intervene through three key steps.

Determine the problem

Recognizing a harmful situation is the first step in active bystander intervention. While harmful situations may seem obvious, social norms or assumptions can often prevent us from identifying and acting on them.

Examples of Harmful Situations:

  • Sexual Misconduct:Sexual assault, consent issues, sexual harassment, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence
  • Alcohol and Drug Misuse:Alcohol poisoning, drug misuse, substance-induced medical emergencies
  • Hazing
  • Mental Health:Suicide prevention, mental health challenges
  • Discrimination:Based on race, gender, religion, sex, disabilities
  • Threats of Violence:Physical fights, targeted or large-scale threats
  • Academic Integrity
Decide to Act

Once a harmful situation is identified, the next challenge is feeling confident to step in and knowing how to do so. Protect Our Nest reminds the UNT community that we all contributed to a safe culture. Stepping in for someone you may not know helps build a positive and supportive community.

Ways to Intervene:

  • Direct Action:Calling 911, asking someone if they are okay, delegating tasks
  • Indirect Action:Filing a report, involving campus or local authorities, causing a distraction, bringing attention to the situation
Discuss

Those who have stepped in or witnessed a situation may need additional support or resources. Protect Our Nest acknowledges individuals who utilize bystander intervention and provides supportive resources and reporting options to the UNT community.

Supportive Resources

  • Counseling & Testing Center
  • Student Health and Wellness
  • UNT Police Department
  • Dean of Students
  • Equal Opportunity and Title IX
  • Office of the Provost- Academic Integrity
  • RISE
  • CARE
  • Seeking Options and Solutions

Reporting Options

  • Report and Compliant
  • CARE referral
  • Seeking Options and Solutions
  • UNT Trust Line
  • UNT Police
  • Equal Opportunity and Title IX
  • Academic Integrity report
  • Misconduct report

Bystander Intervention Training

Attendees will be introduced the bystander intervention initiative for The University of North Texas, Protect Our Nest. Participants will learn about potentially harmful situations that may occur, effective ways to intervene, and supportive resources. Participants will gain insight into the bystander effect, barriers to intervention, and the 3 D’s (Determine, Decide, Discuss). Training length- 50 minutes