Here is an uplifting video I ask that you take a moment to watch!
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy “>
Want a feel good story? Watch this video – from Tucson
The Moral Dilemma of Being a Bystander
Thanks to STEP UP! Board member Susie Bruce at UVA for sending this article. It’s a great read and gets at some very interesting and worthwhile points of discussion.
There are no clear cut or easy answers when tragedy strikes and there are always more questions than answers. But if we can at least start the conversation, have the difficult, sometimes uncomfortable discussions and ultimately accept the personal responsibility of doing SOMETHING, then there will always be hope.
What we say matters
What we do matters
What we stand for matters
STEP UP – IT MATTERS!
Fall Recap and National STEP UP! Day Announced
It has been a very busy and positive semester for STEP UP! We visited 3 campuses (Chico State, University of Virginia and University of San Diego) with more planned for the spring! Thanks to the students and administrators with whom we worked that are committed to making a difference. We are excited to see STEP UP! being implemented campus wide! It is now being used by well over 100 campuses and organizations and we hope to grow that number in the coming year.
We are also happy and proud to announce the creation of the first National STEP UP! Day, which will be March 2, 2011. Check out this blog or our Facebook page for more updates. If you are interested in participating contact us and we will send you what you need to get up and running – It’s not hard at all! JOIN THE STEP UP MOVEMENT!
Speaking of UVA, The Center for Alcohol and Substance Education at the UVA and the Gordie Foundation, two organizations that work to reduce hazardous drinking and promote student-to-student intervention, have merged to create the Gordie Center for Alcohol and Substance Education. See their latest newsletter and more information here. Congrats and thank you to STEP UP! Board member Susie Bruce for her tireless work!
STEP UP! wishes you HAPPY HOLIDAYS and all the best in 2011!
STEP UP! IT MATTERS!
Pitt Basketball Coach STEPS UP!
Saw this in our paper today:
Pitt men’s basketball coach Jamie Dixon helped rescue two men from a car accident near the city, a university spokesman said Sunday. Athletics spokesman Greg Hotchkiss said Dixon saw a vehicle hit a guardrail and overturn Saturday night, stopped his car, ran to the vehicle and cut his hands helping someone get out.
Way to STEP UP Coach Dixon!
Is there someone you know that needs help? How can you STEP UP?
DO SOMETHING!
STEP UP!
Sad Story
Article in the Ball State Daily News:
“Drinking can kill, we know that. The ugly truth is that it sometimes happens like this — choking to death after a night of heavy partying.
That’s what happened Saturday morning at Ball State, say university officials and the county coroner.
An 18-year-old Indiana University student visiting friends died in a Ball State residence hall. He passed out after drinking heavily and using methadone, the coroner said, and apparently choked to death after vomiting. His friends woke up a few hours later, and found him unresponsive.
Another story in today’s paper says alcohol kills hundreds of college-age people each year. We’re lucky it doesn’t happen here more often.
While Ball State has a no-alcohol policy for the campus, we won’t sugarcoat the truth and say that drinking never happens.
Think about it. Is there anyone at this campus who hasn’t seen someone overindulge and black out? We never anticipate it, but it only takes one night of binge drinking and passing out to result in a student never waking up.
The youth culture of drinking doesn’t help either. “Pregaming” is common among college-age people. Advertisements and reality TV sexualize the drinking culture. Bars highlight inexpensive “you-call-its” on specific nights each week.
Experimenting in college is often viewed as part of growing up. Most people don’t think about the effects of mixing drugs and alcohol until tragedy strikes.
In a Daily News online poll, most people have said that drinking here isn’t different than at any other university.
Shouldn’t that be viewed as a problem?
The university has had a few campaigns in the past, most notably the “Police Yourself” drive in 2004, to educate students about the possible punishments they face for drinking in excess, even when off campus.
Those rules are sensible, but they won’t stop bad decisions. When that happens, that’s when we all need to STEP UP! At some point it becomes a personal responsibility — know your limits and watch out for your friends.”
Congrats to STEP UP! Board member Doug Everhart
STEP UP! Advisory Board member Doug Everhart has accepted a new position at UC Irvine as a Health Educator – Alcohol Programs Manager and will be leaving UC Riverside after 12 years. Doug made UCR another University using STEP UP! as the official bystander intervention program on their campus.
Doug certainly made his impact at UCR and served many years on the NCAA Champs Life Skills Advisory Committee. He has been a volunteer for the BACCHUS Network for over 15 years and currently serves as the Coordinator of Student-Athlete Affiliate Support. He is also a member of the APPLE Conference Advisory Team.
UCI is getting one of the very best in the field. Congrats Doug!
Summer time!
I’ve received quite a few calls this summer about implementing STEP UP! in the fall. Summer is a GREAT time to become familiar with the materials and to make plans for trainings in the upcoming year. You can present it at orientations, use it with your leadership groups, teach it in classes and collaborate with others on campus (Campus Health, Greeks, and Residence Life, and Dean of Students office to name a few).
Look for the ready made trainings on the website under Facilitator’s and be sure to watch the free webinar also available under that link to help get started. And don’t forget to look at the FAQ’s for additional answers to your questions! Let us know how we can help. Email us at info@stepupprogram.org
The STEP UP! community is growing quickly and it is very exciting. Follow us on Facebook as well! Spread the word!
DO SOMETHING!
STEP UP!
STEP UP! now on Facebook
You can now follow us on Facebook! Let us know if you see an interesting event, article, or video having to do with bystander intervention. Join the movement – WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
Here is the link! Tell your friends and let’s spread the word! If you like the site click “Like” up at the top!
DO SOMETHING!
STEP UP!
Interesting article
Just read this article on empathy in the paper today. When we teach STEP UP! we certainly talk about the idea of taking a different perspective and trying to empathize with a person’s situation. We also include it in our video (Under ABOUT on the website) – think of a troubling situation – how would you feel? What would you want someone to do for you?
Read the article and let us know what you think. Do you agree or disagree? You can post a comment right under the headline. Let us hear from you!
DO SOMETHING!
STEP UP!
GREAT Story!
Talk about STEPPING UP; Talk about Prosocial Behavior; Talk about making a difference! Just saw this video on Ron Hunter the men’s basketball coach at IUPUI . What a great story! It’s amazing what one idea, from one person, can create. Thank you Coach Hunter for your inspiration.
What can you do to help create change? Or at the very least what prosocial act or random act of kindness can you perform today? Write and let us know what you do at (info@stepupprogram.org)!
Be the CHANGE you want to see in the world. – Gandhi
DO SOMETHING!
STEP UP!