1. Closing the Circle Identifying a missing piece of bystander intervention
Kevin Saberre Jr., Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life
&
Kacey Sebeniecher, Director of Student Wellness Center
The University of Texas at Dallas

2. The University of Texas at Dallas
Learning Outcomes
Evaluate the strengths and challenges of extending supportive services to reporting students within a bystander intervention program
Understand how reportable issues on their respective campuses will benefit from the inclusion of vicarious trauma services
Recognize how regular assessment and vast campus partnerships can improve bystander intervention programs
The University of Texas at Dallas

3. The University of Texas at Dallas
Discussion
What does the bystander intervention initiative on your campuses look like?
The University of Texas at Dallas

4. Discussion
What do you think your bystander intervention initiative is missing?
The University of Texas at Dallas

5. UT System Bystander Intervention
UT System provided funding and support to all UT System institutions to create bystander intervention initiatives on their campus for 3 years.
The University of Texas at Dallas

6. Bystander Intervention at UT Dallas
Comet Voice was originally housed within the Student Wellness Center with guidance from the Dean of Students
Comet Voice is an umbrella initiative that seeks partnerships and collaborations from various departments and divisions
We have a Comet Voice logo, website, social media accounts, a campus wide taskforce etc.
Comet Voice applies to various harmful situations from high risk drinking and mental health concerns to sexual misconduct
What we discovered is that we are asking students to step up, but not offering them any support after they make their report.
The University of Texas at Dallas

7. The University of Texas at Dallas
The Missing Piece
Following a report of hazing in a Greek organization
It was clear that Comet Voice did not offer follow-up support to third party reporting students in a clear way
The Director of Fraternity and Sorority Life recognized that this was a needed service
The connection with Comet Voice was made and the Comet Voice Care Team concept gained momentum
Do you have services specific to third party students that report potentially harmful situations?
Steve’s story
Steve was aware and confident to intervene, but he knew that there were multiple other members that were more wiling to stand by instead of intervene for fear of the consequences.
The University of Texas at Dallas

8. UT Dallas Research Findings
63% of UT Dallas students are familiar with Comet Voice
On average, students were inclined to stand by rather than intervene in a situation involving sexual harassment or sexual assault
Refer to the UT Dallas CLASE Bystander Data and touch on Confidence about Intervening and the emphasis on positive reinforcement within the Care Team to increase student confidence in reporting.
Refer to example from Steve’s story and how multiple other members knew what occurred and were unwilling to report.
The University of Texas System Cultivating Learning and Safe Learning Environments (CLASE) Survey, 2015
The University of Texas at Dallas

9. Inclusion of Vicarious Trauma
“A change in one’s self resulting from an empathetic engagement with another person who has been traumatized” (Witte et. al, 2017, p. 150)
Signs of vicarious trauma:
Feeling unable to help those involved in the situation
Difficulty sleeping
Change to eating habits
Possible depression
Difficulty talking about their feelings toward the situation
“…bystanders who intervene may likely feel good about their decision to intervene, but that some events may be perceived as traumatic, and that both witnessing and intervening are linked to traumatic stress symptoms.” (Witte et. al, 2017, p. 150)
Dating violence is the most prevalent issue of sexual misconduct at UTD. Witte referenced that most students who experienced vicarious trauma witnessed an issue of dating violence.
While vicarious trauma typically occurs after assisting individuals with traumatic experiences repeatedly, we have seen some signs of vicarious trauma among students who have reported harmful situations as active bystanders
Witte, T.H., Casper, D.M., Hackman, C.L. & Mulla, M.M. (2017). Bystander interventions for sexual assault and dating violence on college campuses: Are we putting bystanders in harm’s way?, Journal of American College Health, 65(3),
The University of Texas at Dallas

10. The University of Texas at Dallas
Comet Voice Care Team
The University of Texas at Dallas

11. Purpose of the Comet Voice Care Team
A team of Student Affairs professionals will provide advocacy, resources and a positive support system to UT Dallas students who stand up and step in when they see potentially harmful situations in their community.
We should read the proposal… that we sent to the dean
The University of Texas at Dallas

12. Comet Voice Care Team Mission
The Comet Voice Care Team will provide advocacy and support services to UT Dallas students that report potentially harmful situations. Harmful situations can include, but are not limited to:
Sexual misconduct
Hazing
Suicidal attempts or ideation
Dating/domestic violence
Stalking
Hate Speech
Bias incidents
The University of Texas at Dallas

13. The University of Texas at Dallas
Steps to Care Team
Identify key stakeholders
Dean of Students/ Community Standards and Conduct
Title IX Coordinator
Chief of Police
Create training materials for involved staff
Wellness
Conflict resolution
Retaliation
Determine effective referral process
Preformed research and benchmarking to determine if similar programs and trainings took place at other UT system institutions
Intentionally simplified the process so that it fits with other referral procedures
Brainstormed potential components of training for Care Team members:
Empathy- provided by the Student Counseling Center
Retaliation- provided by Community Standards and Conduct
Campus Policy Overview- Provided by Title IX and Community Standards and Conduct
Conflict Resolution- Student Counseling Center
Overview of Support Services-Student Wellness Cents/Comet Voice
We didn’t want Care team to be a resource that we “discovered” we had due to normal referral system; we looked for the CARE team to be a full program so students wouldn’t fall through the cracks.
The University of Texas at Dallas

14. Comet Voice Care Team Structure
Care Team Members
Care Team Referrers
Student Wellness Center
Community Standards and Conduct
Fraternity and Sorority Life
Residential Life
University Recreation
Title IX
Gender Center
UT Dallas Police
Multicultural Center
Dean of Students
Student Organization Center
Being a Care Team emmer is a choice. It empowers members to have conversations with students and keeps them invested in the initiative. It creates a support structure for staff
Determined which areas would refer students to the Care Team for support:
Community Standards and Conduct
Residential life
Title IX
UT Dallas police
Mention the uniqueness of Center for Students in Recovery staff being on CARE team as she is a licensed counselor
The University of Texas at Dallas

15. Care Team Members Responsibilities
Meet with students who have reported an incident
Offer positive reinforcement and support to the student during the meeting
Report additional facts or information to referrers related to the incident
Have an understanding of campus policy and acts of retaliation
The University of Texas at Dallas

16. The University of Texas at Dallas

17. The University of Texas at Dallas
Referral Process
A list of Care Team members with their areas of expertise was provided to all Care Team referrers
Students are not required to meet with the Care Team, but they are provided information about services that are available to them and encouraged to reach out
Care Team members meet with students as needed
The University of Texas at Dallas

18. Next Step: Faculty Collaboration
Inform/present Care Team information to academic student groups
Recruit and train academic staff and/or faculty as Care Team members
Develop academic liaison program
Create a Care Team reporting structure suitable for faculty members
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19. The University of Texas at Dallas
Questions?
The University of Texas at Dallas

20. The University of Texas at Dallas
Thank you
Kacey Sebeniecher, M.S
Kevin Saberre Jr.
Director of Student Wellness Center
Director of Fraternity & Sorority Life
The University of Texas at Dallas
(Office)
(Office)
The University of Texas at Dallas