Reducing Power Based Personal Violence With The Implementation of the Green Dot Initiative at Kalamazoo College

Abstract

Sexual assault and power based violence on college campus continues to rise with very limited effective programs to help reduce and ultimately stop these assaults. Studies have shown that assaults on college campuses occur in about 1 in 5 women. In initial efforts to reduce these statistics, and change the dichotomy of assaults on campuses, the United States mandated that any school, college or university that receives Federal funds must accept and comply with Title IX, which prohibits "any sexual harassment, sexual violence, rape, assault, battery and coercion." While these mandated efforts have been instilled, we are still seeing a large number of assaults being carried out. The implementation, and proper training with the Green Dot Bystander Intervention program has been proven to encourage students and communities to become interactive in efforts to reduce power based violence. The program implementation has shown a 17% decrease in power-based personal violence on college campuses and within the communities.