Violence Prevention & Education Services

Title: Violence Prevention Educator

 

Degree(s): 
Bachelor of Science in Human Services, Hilbert college
Masters of Social Work, Fordham University

Experience:  (how long at Le Moyne)  
Worked at Le Moyne since July 2019

What I Love About Le Moyne: 
When you walk onto the Le Moyne Campus, it's like the air smells different. The energy that college students release is contagious and mobilizing, the passion of faculty/staff is felt so deeply, its almost tangible. At Le Moyne it doesn’t just feel like you are part of a community, it feels like going to Sunday dinners, like family, like home. I am so happy and lucky to be here.

Dolphins Against Violence (DAV) Club is an approved Student Government Association Club aimed at preventing sexual assault, dating and domestic violence, and stalking at Le Moyne College.

For more information about how to join our club please email: morsed@lemoyne.edu

How can I play a role in preventing sexual assault?

The key to keeping your friends safe is learning how to intervene in a way that fits the situation and your comfort level. Having this knowledge on hand can give you the confidence to step in when something isn’t right. Stepping in can make all the difference, but it should never put your own safety at risk.

 

Bystander Intervention Training is available to all students at Le Moyne regardless of association to Dolphins Against Violence club. This training will be offered numerous times throughout the semester, but can also be requested by emailing

morsed@lemoyne.edu

 

A minimum of 12-15 participants is required for this training. This training is 6 hours long.

 

Don’t Cancel That Class

Are you expecting to miss one or more of your class periods this semester due a professional or personal reason? Instead of canceling the class, consider the "Don't Cancel that Class" initiative, which will host your class in your absence by presenting on the topic of your choice. Don’t plan to miss a class but would still like a guest speaker to come in? This program is for you too! For more information please email me at morsed@Lemoyne.edu. I will work with you and prepare a customized presentation for your class.

 

Please note that presentations are not guaranteed but are based on the availability of the presenters and most require two weeks advance notice. A confirmation email will be sent to you 2-3 business days after you submit your request.

 

Presentation choices:

Yes Means Yes
This is an interactive 45-60 minute presentation that break down and explains affirmative consent and its components. During the presentation consent will be discussed as a process that is needed in a healthy relationship.

Bystander Intervention 101
In this 45-60 minute presentation we will be defining as a group bystander intervention, barriers to intervening, viewing a series of scenarios and processing the intervention. The cost of not intervening/victim impact will be highlighted in the presentation.

The Power of Language in Gender Norms/Roles
This interactive 45-60 minute workshop highlights how language and socially constructed gender roles contribute to sexism, toxic masculinity, homophobia, and other forms of discrimination, and a culture of violence.

The Traumagenic Model of Sexual Abuse
In this 45-60 minute presentation students will receive information regarding the 4 key dynamics at play when sexual assault/abuse takes place: traumatic sexualization, betrayal, stigmatization and powerlessness. There will be discussion of psychological and behavioral impact of sexual abuse/assault. 

 

The Spectrum of Relationships: How to stay in the healthy course
In this 45-60 minute presentation we will be discussing healthy, unhealthy and abusive behaviors in relationships. Participants will be provided with on and off campus resources, as well as online. 

 

A bystander is a person who is present when an event takes place but isn’t directly involved.

Bystanders might be present when sexual assault or abuse occurs—or they could witness the circumstances that lead up to these crimes.

Bystanders are present in 60% of violent crimes and yet only 15% of bystanders intervene.

It would be easy to say that the reason people do not step in is because they do not care. This would be an easy answer to a very complex question. No one really knows how they will respond in any given situation. Often times, people do not know how they will respond until they are faced with a situation that requires action. In an ideal world, people would step in right away when they see something is happening or going to happen. In an ideal world, that would always be the right thing to do. It can be discouraging to think that we do not live in a world were people do so, and yet our world is full of good people.

Before we are able to learn how to be active bystanders, we need to open up the conversation and acknowledge the barriers that keep bystanders on the sidelines. Among those barriers are thoughts like:

“I don’t know what to do or what to say.”

“I don’t want to cause a scene.”

“It’s not my business.”

“I don’t want my friend to be mad at me.”

“I’m sure someone else will step in.”

These thoughts are normal and okay. Taking action can be scary. It can be hard to know what he response will be. It can also be nerve-wrecking to think that you are misreading the situation and making a judgement call that is not necessary. But HEY – if you are here, if you are reading this – you’ve come to the right place.

Distract

• Do what you can to interrupt the situation. A distraction can give the person at risk a chance to get to a safe place.
• Cut off the conversation with a diversion like, “Let’s get pizza, I’m starving,” or “This party is lame. Let’s try somewhere else.”
• Bring out fresh food or drinks and offer them to everyone at the party, including the people you are concerned about.
• Start an activity that is draws other people in, like a game, a debate, or a dance party.

Direct

• Talk directly to the person who might be in trouble.
• Ask questions like “Who did you come here with?” or “Would you like me to stay with you?”


Delegate

• Sometimes the safest way to intervene is to refer to a neutral party with the authority to change the situation, like an RA or security guard.
• Talk to a security guard, bartender, or another employee about your concerns. It’s in their best interest to ensure that their patrons are safe, and they will usually be willing to step in.
• Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you are concerned for someone else’s safety.
• It can be intimidating to approach a situation alone. Enlist another person to support you.
• Ask someone to come with you to approach the person at risk. When it comes to expressing concern, sometimes there is power in numbers.
• Ask someone to intervene in your place. For example, you could ask someone who knows the person at risk to escort them to the bathroom.
• Enlist the friend of the person you’re concerned about. “Your friend looks like they’ve had a lot to drink. Can you check on them?”