The NIC Sentinel

Issue date: 4/23/07 Section: Life

Media Credit: James Hannibal Bonita Bontrag and Scott Calhoun speak to students about intervening in potential violent situations.

As images of Gandhi and the Dalai Lama appeared and disappeared on the wall, a crowd of students, faculty members and residence advisors mingled around the rice crispy treats and punch. They didn't know it, but they were soon to become active bystanders in the war on campus violence.

"Monday's shooting at Virginia Tech only reminds us all-too pointedly of the violence that surrounds us on our campuses and at our work place," said Scott Calhoun, senior at the University of Montana Western. "Tonight we're taking a stand against what happened there."

Thursday night in the Residence Hall theater room three students from the University of Montana-Western showed NIC faculty and students how to fight violence on campus by being active bystanders.

A bystander, according to Calhoun, is anybody who belongs to a social group that witnesses something. Calhoun told a real life story and asked the audience to identify the bystanders.

It was late night and Kitty Genevieve was on her way home from work. As she stepped off the bus she began walking toward her apartment. However, she only made it as far as the lamppost.

As her assailant pulled out a knife and began to stab her, Genevieve screamed for help. A single light appeared in the window as a man leaned out and yelled for him to leave her alone. Then it went dark. The window was shut and the man silent.

The assailant returned a second and third time, each time inflicting Genevieve with more wounds. Finally, on his third return he killed her. According to police reports a minimum of 29 people witnessed the attack on Genevieve that night from their apartments above.

"All of us in this room tonight have the potential to become bystanders," Calhoun said.

Most of us feel that we only have two options, according to Calhoun. Either we get physically involved when we see violence occurring or we walk away. However, there is a third option: Be an active bystander.

An active bystander is someone who prevents a violent situation from happening or gets involved when it does.

Continued...

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