Understanding Privilege:
Creating Safe Zone and
Bystander Training
Programs
THAT CAN WORK AT A SMA
Agenda
Initial approach to launching Bystander Intervention and Safe Zone Ally
programs and lessons learned.
Rationale for understanding campus-wide, focused training on privilege
and culture change.
Overview of revised training plan
Sharing of resources
Audience discussion of SMA campus climate challenges and opportunities
and successful programs.
Introductions
Elizabeth True, VP for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management and Title
IX Coordinator elizabeth.true@mma.edu
Amanda Nguyen, Interim Director of Residential Life and Student Services
amanda.nguyen@mma.edu
Hannah Chisholm ‘16
John Amendola ‘15
Outcomes
Broader understanding of how campus culture affects students’ ability to
engage in training on diversity topics
Sharing of best practices
Opportunity for staff at SMAs to collaborate across campuses to facilitate
better training for students
Reminder that we are ALWAYS learning
Maine Maritime Academy Culture
Male majority in student body
Fear of raising women’s issues and being treated differently
Lack of traditional student activities
Lack of racial diversity/remote area
Comparative lack of awareness of cultural sensitivity issues
Regimental culture
Hypothesis – more conservative student body? Accurate or not?
Paternalistic/big brother mentality
“I don’t see color (gender, sexual orientation)”
Student Affairs Assumptions
Students understood the concept of privilege and accepted their own
Students had prior experience with diversity/sensitivity training
MMA Students held more conservative opinions on diversity issues than
would be expected in a college population
Women and students from other underrepresented groups were
comfortable challenging prejudicial treatment
Male students understood the challenges for women on a majority male
campus
We were wrong on ALL counts!
Trying to fit a round peg into a square
hole
Adapting programs from more traditional campuses without considering
the unique campus culture of MMA
Bystander Training
Title IX requirements
Focus on bystander effect
Use of video
Lessons learned:
Began with discussion about status of women in the maritime industry
Focusing on details such as overemphasis on consent scenarios, alcohol
Making men feel defensive that all are potential predators
Unreasonable assumption about the frequency that women lie about rape for
revenge
Didn’t personalize it enough for MMA experience
Didn’t connect to honor code
Safe Zone Ally Training
Required for Ras/voluntary for rest of community
Explored how identifying as LGBT is more challenging on the MMA campus
Lessons Learned
Either fully address role of religious beliefs in issue of homophobia or don’t
explore it at all
Explain the training/Safe Zone concept better and broader marketing
Avoid generalizations and judgment based on assumptions
Adaptations for future – incorporating student staff feedback
Privilege and Culture Change
PRIVILEGE – Define
Connection between privilege and extreme majority/minority population
imbalance
Lack of critical mass
Lack of understanding or acknowledgment of majority privilege
Examples of privilege and “ism” on MMA campus:
New approaches
Diversity training re privilege
Engagement of student leaders in planning
Gender expectations and communications - Haven and Sex Signals
Connecting to the Honor Code – bystander intervention strategies
Respect the Anchor campaign
Diversity training
Cultural competency
Grasping the concept of majority privilege
Understanding how privilege and assumptions lead to exclusion
Student Leader Engagement
Understanding Campus Climate
Meaningful conversations about what didn’t work – and adapting the
training as a result of the feedback
Seeking direction – what “ism” to tackle first
Leadership Council
Feedback – what works?
Peer – led training
Focus on the positive – the benefits of being part of an honor community
Gender Expectations and
Communications
Going deeper than bystander intervention to campus climate issues –
reconsidering masculinity, expectations – what kind of community do you
want to be part of?
Looking at men as allies and bystanders, not predators
Fully exploring consent
Honor Code
Connecting bystander intervention and Safe Zone ally training to the
Honor Code and values of the MMA community
Focusing on the values and expectations of the code
We don’t treat people “that way” in our community
We look out for each other
We hold each other accountable to the code
Respect the Anchor
Orientation theme
Respecting yourself
Respecting each other
Respecting the institution
Respecting the community
Slogan picked up by athletics to convey higher expectations of behavior
among Mariners
Diversity Resources
DJ Smooth videos
Consent videos
Bystander training resources
Sex Signals www.catharsisproductions.com
Step Up stepupprogram.org
On-line Bystander training for USNA
http://www.catharsisproductions.com/online_training_demo.php
Safe Zone training manual
Collaboration
Idea sharing from other campuses
