Getting To Know LWC Green Dot

Pictured: Lindsey Wilson College freshmen Janessa Girdley, left, and Kiasia Thompson from Bardstown, Kentucky, participate in Green Dot bystander intervention training in the Katie Murrell Library Clark Reading Room. Green Dot training teaches volunteers how to recognize the warning signs of personal violence and provides the tools to intervene in dangerous situations. Nearly 20 LWC students took part in the 90-minute training session before Thanksgiving break.

Columbia, KY – While everyone else was preparing for Thanksgiving break, one group of Lindsey Wilson College students took time out of their busy schedules for campus safety by taking part in Green Dot bystander intervention training.

A research-based violence prevention program, Green Dot teaches volunteers to recognize the warning signs of stalking, sexual assault, dating and domestic violence. Green Dot empowers LWC faculty, staff and students with the tools and knowledge to intervene and diffuse dangerous situations.

“Green Dot teaches us how we can be heroes in our everyday life by keeping others safe through small and meaningful actions,” said LWC Director of Student Activities Anna Buckman. “A Green Dot represents any proactive or reactive choice that makes it less likely a form of power-based violence will take place. We use the term power-based personal violence because this kind of violence can potentially affect all of us.”

Volunteers take part in a 90-minute training where they are presented with relatable scenarios that hit close to home. Trainees are prompted to consider how they could take action in these familiar situations.

“Most importantly we want anyone involved in training to leave with the knowledge and confidence to take action when they are comfortable doing so,” says Buckman. “Intervention can be discreet or direct. The informed bystander can decide what their role will be in situations of potential harm.”

Coordinated by the Adanta Sexual Assault Resource Center, nearly 60 members of the LWC campus community have received Green Dot training since the program launched last spring. Buckman says more training sessions will be held after the students return from winter break.

“Our end goal is to train as many members of the LWC community as possible on Green Dot bystander intervention methods,” Buckman says. “Ideally, this will raise awareness, change the conversation around personal violence and thwart future assaults. LWC does not tolerate violence in any form.”

If you would like to receive Green Dot training, please contact Anna Buckman at buckmana@lindsey.edu, LWC Dean of Students Chris Schmidt at schmidtc@lindsey.edu or call 270-384-8033.

• For LWC Public Safety call 270-384-8106 or text 270-634-1147.

• To speak confidentially with an LWC counselor, call 270-384-7484 or email counseling@lindsey.edu.

• To return to the LWC homepage, www.lindsey.edu.

National Hotline Numbers:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 24/7: Call, Text, or Chat to 988 (Please note, the previous 1-800-273-8255 will continue to operate indefinitely).
The Adanta Group Crisis Center and 24-Hour Hotline: 1-800-633-5599
24-Hour National Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
National Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat live, or text 838255
The Trevor Lifeline (Suicide Prevention for LGBTQ+ Youth): 1-866-488-7386 or text START to 678-678