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Michigan State University
Michigan State University

Prevention, Outreach and Education Department

Office for Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance

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Bystander Network

Bystander Network

Required for all 2nd year Undergraduate Students at MSU

Bystander Network is a 1-hour bystander intervention training facilitated by undergraduate Peer Educators. Participants will discuss ways to challenge, interrupt, and prevent gender-based violence by being active bystanders.

As members of the Michigan State University community, it's important that all Spartans strive toward creating a safer campus climate for all. Everyone has a responsibility in preventing gender-based violence and this workshop will provide realistic and effective tips on how to ensure that Spartans Will be active bystanders. 

What You'll Learn

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For the 2022 - 2023 Academic School Year, the Bystander Network workshop will be provided in-person (at varying locations on campus) and online (Live Zoom Webinars). All second-year undergraduate students are required to attend in order to complete their state and federal annual RVSM training requirement. See emails for more instructions on how to enroll.

Did you know?

Bystander intervention is an important and effective method for reducing and preventing instances of relationship violence and sexual misconduct on college campuses. Completing the Bystander Network training helps create a larger network of active bystanders dedicated to reducing instances of gender-based violence on campus.

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If you are having trouble accessing your workshop, it's possible the link has changed. You should have been sent a new link. Please check your spam/junk folders and look for the most recent email about your workshop. If you still can't find it please contact us at empower@msu.edu and we will get back to you the following day. 
We recommend using Chrome to access the online work. Also make sure to clear your cache history to avoid any glitches. 

Our workshops are created with a survivor focus and are intentionally made to be sensitive to the topics of sexual and relationship violence. We have had survivor input during the creation of the workshops that help to make them trauma-informed and to present the content in the least upsetting, or triggering, way to folks who have experienced trauma. Our workshops create a space that allows the attendees to feel comfortable and safe, which also includes the option to step out or leave at any time they feel the information is too much. Our peer educators presenting the workshops are also trained to handle difficult situations and check in with those who need to step out and debrief.

Your safety and well-being is our priority. If you are concerned that the workshop might be a difficult experience, you may request accommodations by contacting the Training and Accommodation Specialist atempower@msu.edu

Yes. For reasonable accommodation requests, please contact the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at (517) 884-7273 .
The Bystander Network workshop is required for all students at MSU for their second year.
Attendance is tracked through Zoom attendance reports from your workshop and by completing a post-workshop survey that includes your MSU email. This survey link is given in your workshop.
You can register for another workshop by following the instructions in your email to cancel your registration and select a new workshop date and time.
Follow the instructions in your email to register again. If workshops have concluded for the fall semester, you must register for a workshop in the spring semester.
All second-year students are on the mailing list to receive notifications about the Bystander Network Workshop. You will continue to receive these notifications until after you have attended a workshop and your attendance has been recorded. Sometimes this can take several days.
This workshop is required for all second-year student, but if you feel like you have exceptional circumstances, please contact our department at empower@msu.edu. 
If the university cancels classes due to weather, workshops will also be cancelled. However, you will still need to attend a workshop. You can follow the instructions in your registration email to sign up for a new workshop.
While we greatly value the education and experience students have had with gender-based violence prevention, this workshop will give all MSU students a consistent knowledge base about prevention, bystander intervention, and resources of where to get help at MSU.
Prevention, Outreach and Education (POE) hires new peer educators every spring semester to begin work for the following fall semester. Check this website for an online application during the spring. 
Please contact our department atempower@msu.edu.

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