“I decided to come to Green Dot Training because I thought it was a really good opportunity to learn about really important issues on college campuses and to have the tools you need to be a force for a positive change,” freshman in the College of Arts and Sciences Laura Gale said. 

Green Dot Training is a four–hour “bystander intervention program that asks everyone to take action against power-based personal violence”, according to the Creighton Green Dot website. 

Co-presenter and Senior Investigator for the Office of Equity and Inclusion, Marshall Kole, added to Gale’s description of Green Dot Training. 

“Green Dot Training is a way for people in this environment to learn very simple and tangible tools for intervening in situations where violence or concerning behaviors may be present, specifically related to stalking, sexual violence and being a witness,” Kole said. 

College of Arts and Sciences sophomore Paul Benedetto feels that there is an aspect of community at the training session, which gives him hope for the future. 

“I am encouraged by the community in this Green Dot Program,” Benedetto said. “They were all really upset when other people didn’t do anything and they all have a desire to do something in the future. And that’s really encouraging to me to produce something in the future.”

Green Dot Training is open to all ages, not just freshmen, and Benedetto is happy he was able to attend.

“I’ve been trying to do it for a couple months now, and it always falls on a test day or I’m off campus, and I’ve just wanted to do it,” Benedetto said. “I think it’s a very good thing to do. I’m glad I was finally able to.”

The Creighton Green Dot website states that the name of the program comes from “the term ‘green dot,’ [which] refers to a single moment in time when someone makes the choice to use their words, actions or behaviors to make our campus and community safer.” 

A red dot situation is the opposite —an instance when PPV, or any other form of violent conflict, arises.  

Co-presenter and Director of Academic Success Joseph Ecklund explained that his favorite part of teaching the session was helping students realize they can make a difference.

“Seeing the students that are clearly engaged, and as we get more and more into it, I think students really understand the principles we’re trying to share with them,” Ecklund said. “And they’re truly buying into their ability; their understanding that they can change the culture.” 

 Gale refers to the “Three Ds” regarding the most important lesson she learned from the session. These are reactions that one can offer while a red dot action is taking place. One has the option of directly addressing a situation, delegating safety precautions to another person or distracting those involved in the red dot circumstance.

“My biggest takeaways are the ‘Three Ds’ and different ways you can get involved if you see a red dot taking place and how to prevent future negative situations from happening,” Gale said.

Kole also said that the Three Ds are an important message for students to recognize from the training. 

“I think the Three Ds simplify [solutions] in profound ways,” Kole said. “[PPV] is a huge thing and [the Three D’s] make it simple enough that they feel empowered to step in.”

Ecklund characterized the program as an interactive way for students to understand the basic concepts of being an active bystander. 

“This is a simple way to understand and embrace action in a critically important issue,” Ecklund said. “Sexual assault on campuses is very current and this is about as simple of a way to address sexual assault or any type of violence as anyone can come up with. It’s got a color code; it’s got three simple reactions[…] Ultimately it’s all of us contributing a little bit at a time to change the norm.”