Campus recreation facilities and programs add value through a more balanced student experience at colleges and universities. Well-run fitness, intramural and wellness programs promote the physical and emotional health and well-being of the entire campus community.
Your community should be encouraged to take advantage of recreation opportunities and feel safe in doing so. Program environments that are accessible, inclusive and free from physical and emotional abuse, and misconduct, including sexual abuse, are part of the mix.
Acknowledge the Issue
Abuse and misconduct seen in society at large can happen on college campuses, including in recreational settings.
According to Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), college-age adults are at higher risk for sexual violence.* Unfortunately, headlines attest to the fact that hazing, bullying and other misconduct can also be prevalent on campuses.
Through tone-setting, proactive policies, and abuse awareness and prevention education, campus rec administrators, staff, trainers and other stakeholders can help create a positive culture free from abuse and misconduct.
Here’s a priority checklist to keep in mind:
Build Inclusive Environments
Promote student agency and autonomy. Encourage students, trainers and staff to understand physical and emotional boundaries and respect them.
Language matters. Communicate openly and respectfully. Talk intentionally to set expectations about culture and respect for others.
Model respect, equity and integrity. Let colleagues and program participants know they are valued. Be aware of natural imbalances of power like admin to staff member.
Prioritize Policies and Education
Invest in a quality abuse awareness and prevention training program for recreational staff and contractors grounded in research and best practices. Make it available to all roles and establish clear protocols for responding to reports of abuse and misconduct that align with your campus policies.
Communicate policies for your facilities and programs among all participants. Know the right language to use and whom to contact for next steps.
Be vigilant for signs of retaliation for abuse disclosure. Retaliation is real and can have a devastatingly chilling effect on program culture.
See Something, Do Something
Consider these bystander intervention principles and guiding questions in campus rec operations:
Notice a concerning or harmful event is happening or may happen. “Is there anything about this situation that concerns me?”
Decide whether action is needed in the situation. “This is a gut-check moment. Does something need to be done?”
Assume responsibility for acting or delegating. “Is it my responsibility to do something? If I don’t, who will?”
Figure out your options for intervening and identify risks and barriers to acting. “Are there actions I can take comfortably and safely? What might make it hard to do something? What power do I have in this situation?”
Understand how to conduct the action safely. “How will I keep myself safe while taking this action? What might help the person being harmed feel safer?”
By Martha Van Gelder, the vice president of education, marketing and partnerships at the U.S. Center for SafeSport. She previously worked at universities supporting student programming, and wellness and recreational operations. For more information, visit uscenterforsafesport.org.
