Join our culture of respect

The following message was shared with OHIO students on Tuesday, Aug. 15.

Welcome home,

We are so excited to have you here – these bricks are yours to make your own. Step outside your comfort zone, initiate conversations, join organizations that speak to your passions. We want you to feel empowered, valued, safe, and respected here.

Last week, your Student Senate leaders emailed you about an important topic – the Red Zone. We know that it is common to see a surge of sexual assault reports, alcohol abuse missteps, and general disregard for safety on college campuses each fall. While those issues may still exist here, those who would deliberately do harm to other Bobcats are scarce. Even still, we take responsibility for these issues by holding ourselves and those around us accountable. It takes every member of this community to commit to a culture of safety and respect at OHIO.

We join your student leaders’ call to you to create a culture of respect and be better bystanders. This means recognizing a problematic, or potentially problematic situation and addressing it respectfully and without delay.

Being a Better Bystander looks like...

• Seeing a student employee being disrespected and stepping in to de-escalate a conflict.
• Noticing a Bobcat who has had a lot to drink and offering to call them a safe ride home.
• Checking in with a hallmate who you haven’t seen in a while to see if they are okay
• Encouraging the person next to you to put their mask on while indoors
• Modeling the importance of sexual consent and setting the expectation that your friends do the same in their relationships and interactions.
• Talking to your roommate openly about boundaries so you can look out for one another
• Calling out bias, sexism, or racism that pops up in casual conversation
• Making your position about all of these issues known to the people in your life.

We know that you are smart. We know you are capable. And we know that you want what’s best for yourself and those around you. We all want to feel safe and respected on campus. Do your part and be an active, engaged bystander in this community and advocate for the person next to you to do the same.

Sincerely,
Jenny & Patti

Jenny Hall-Jones, Ph.D.
Vice President, Division of Student Affairs

Patti McSteen, Ph.D.
Senior Associate Vice President, Dean of Students