While Auburn students are busy with internships and jobs, classes and game days, Shelby Flores and her team are working to create safer spaces off-campus for students.
Through conversation with students, Flores, coordinator of the University's Alcohol and Drug Prevention, Health Promotion & Wellness Services, and her team became increasingly aware of accounts of over intoxication and reports of drugging at downtown bars.
In hopes of developing actionable items from the conversation, numerous community partners and on-campus representatives turned to Raise the Bar, a program focusing on bystander intervention by training bar staff. In addition to informing employees on how to better recognize when intervention may be needed, the program also details various resources both on campus and within the community.
Flores said that Emmie Bruderer, Auburn SGA director of Health and Wellness, was instrumental in the project's original development.
Bruderer said that SGA "had been a long term supporter of the Green Dot program and wanted to take that downtown."
According to Auburn University's Title IX webpage, the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Program works to mobilize bystanders in order "to prevent or interrupt acts of violence with proactive or reactive behaviors."
As the Crime Victims Assistance Center notes, bartenders and servers are crucial to bystander intervention; consuming alcohol doesn't create perpetrators of sexual aggression, but it's estimated that it's involved in 50% of sexual violence incidents.
However, instances of over intoxication, drugging and sexual violence aren't unique to Auburn. Therefore, this training has been implemented on other college campuses, such as the University of Michigan, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University and others.
Flores said individual behaviors and systems impact how a community implements prevention behaviors and promotes healthy behaviors.
Jon Hyink, co-owner of downtown bars 1716 and Southeastern, said he recognizes the importance of environmental protection. The University's Greek Life and Student Conduct offices, the Auburn Police Division, the University's Health Promotion and Wellness Services, Auburn Campus Safety and Security, Auburn City Schools and others also support this system-based approach.
Flores hopes that Raise the Bar will become a symbol for help and support, particularly for students and the greater community.
“There are a lot of people here that really care about Auburn and everything that it stands for, and this is a really unique opportunity to bring folks together to promote a safer community," she said.
Bruderer mirrored these thoughts. She said that the Auburn Family can truly show its existence by "[stepping] in and [being] a friend."
"If you see something, say something," Bruderer said. "Be aware; be a bystander."
Bruderer said people don't have to join a club to take action — they can also raise awareness for and help prevent occurrences by being active bystanders.
In addition, Flores said that stronger relationships will continue to be built with community partners to show students that there is support for them off-campus. Not only will students have an increased understanding of the resources that are available to them, but they'll be able to get help when they need it.
The next steps include training more establishments, like downtown bars and restaurants, and continued communication to the community about the resources that are available. Students are also encouraged to voice their feedback to SGA through Open Forum and SGA Answers.
SGA said it ultimately hopes to continue working to make Auburn students aware that the training has been done and to further elevate the efforts of Green Dot and other resources.
CORRECTION: This article has been updated to correct Emmie Bruderer's position in SGA from senate executive director to director of Health and Wellness.
Do you like this story? The Plainsman doesn't accept money from tuition or student fees, and we don't charge a subscription fee. But you can donate to support The Plainsman.
Regan Moss, senior pursuing concurrent degrees in microbiology and neuroscience, is a columnist for The Plainsman.
