The Eckerd Lava Lamp

Step Up

If something seems off, you can make a difference just by checking in with people. Remember the four "D"s to offer support in a way that is safe and feels right for you.

Direct: Directly confront a situation. Ask if every is okay or state that you are uncomfortable with the situation. Try not to escalate things, but remain calm and clear. Be aware that direct intervention is not always safe and consider incorporating one of the other strategies.

Delegate: Get someone else to help. This could be someone in a position of authority (e.g. RAs, EC-ERT, campus safety) or people who know the parties involved better than you do. It's almost always a good idea to get others to help so you aren't intervening alone.

Distract: Be creative and cause a distraction. This could be anything that deescalates or interrupts the situation. You can create an opening for someone else to check in with a person being harmed or a person potentially causing harm.

Double Back: However you intervene, it's a good idea to check in with someone afterward to see how they are doing, if possible. This could look like reaching out the next day to talk or offering resources like S.O.S. and Advocacy. Sometimes, we don't realize until after the fact that something was off and wish we had intervened. It's never too late to double back by checking in with someone and letting them know you care.