Expert to tackle issue of bystander behavior

There are effective ways to intervene when someone is being harassed or threatened.

Bystander behavior trainer Alan Berkowitz says for almost all problems experienced by students there are bystanders who observe the situation but don't act.

Berkowitz will lead a workshop on bystander behavior for student affairs professionals at 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Feb. 8 in Rackham Amphitheatre, to teach them strategies to address such situations.

"Let's say you're with a group of guys and one is talking about women in ways that are offensive," Berkowitz says. "Maybe the first step is to approach the other friends and say this bothers me, how do you feel about it? Because very often people feel alone in their concern, when in fact their concern is shared."

Berkowitz says that when confronting an offensive person may put you in danger, there also are indirect ways to proceed. He offers the example of a man who observes a group of males harassing a woman.

"He pretends he's lost and goes over and asks directions, and while he asks for directions she walks away."

Berkowitz' workshop, Addressing Bystander Behavior Among Students and Colleagues, also addresses how bystanders can deal with students who drink too much, make racial slurs, and show other offensive behavior.

Two sessions are scheduled: The first, at 8:30-10:30 a.m., includes an introduction to bystander theory, and also focuses on data and practice, and its relationship to other prevention strategies.

A skill building session scheduled for 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. will include incorporating those skills into the work of student affairs professionals.

"The bystander training applies to most areas of our life and is pertinent to the campus community in terms of ethics, social justice and health issues," says Marsha Benz, alcohol and other drug health educator, University Health Service.

"We would like faculty and staff to reinforce these messages with their students when they have the opportunity. I think it fits in very neatly with the citizenship theme this year," Benz adds.

"For almost all problems experienced by students there are bystanders: individuals who are concerned about the problem but don't act on their concern," Berkowitz writes on his Web site. "This may result in not responding to misbehavior, prejudicial remarks, and other problems. Bystanders want to act but don't.

"This session will review the reasons for bystander behavior and provide guidelines for how to reduce it, helping individuals act in ways that are more congruent with their values and ideals. Situations will be explored in which staff may act as bystanders as well."

Berkowitz, an independent consultant, holds a doctoral degree in psychology from Cornell University. He developed one of the first rape prevention programs for men at Hobart and William Smith Colleges.

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