Green Dot

Green Dot is a national violence prevention program, implemented by the College in 2010, that trains students, faculty and staff in bystander intervention to help prevent sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. A "Green Dot" is defined as any behavior, choice, word, or attitude that counters or displaces a "red dot" of violence, promoting safety for everyone and communicating utter intolerance for sexual violence, interpersonal violence and stalking.

Green Dot encourages bystanders (everyone will be one at some point) to make a choice and then take action by doing something to prevent violence from happening in our community. Built on the idea that in order to measurably reduce the instances of power-based personal violence there must be a culture shift, Green Dot capitalizes on peer and cultural influence to encourage change in behaviors from those that sustain violence in our community.

When students matriculate, they pledge "that my actions will be thoughtful and ethical and that I will do my best to instill a sense of responsibility in those among us who falter." Students are pledging to live the Green Dot already through our very own Honor Code -- the training just gives you the skills to do it.

No one has to do everything ...
Everyone has to do something!
What's your GREEN DOT?

Green Dot training

Nicole Powell, director of sexual violence prevention and advocacy, and CC Curtiss, director of student wellness and alcohol and other drug education, are certified Green Dot trainers. They lead regular six-hour Green Dot training sessions on campus. More than 1000 Connecticut College students have already been Green Dot trained.

If you are interested in learning more or being trained in Green Dot, you can attend an information session, bring a Green Dot presentation to your residence hall, club meeting or classroom, or sign up for the next six-hour training by contacting Nicole Powell at 860-439-2235 or spowell2@conncoll.edu.

To learn more about the national Green Dot program, visit www.livethegreendot.com.

What Connecticut College Green Dot grads have to say about the 6-hour program

"Training was an empowering experience, from the bonds of trust built with the people in the room to the inspirational quotes between slide show sections. As far as I'm concerned it could've lasted 20 hours - there was so much to learn."

"Keeping the session in a 6-hour chunk is helpful for the continuity of the training - it allows you to relate things from earlier in the training to new things that come up… As much as it is a big time commitment it is totally worth it."

"The time went by fast … and I feel like the discussion really added to making the material more concrete and understandable. This is a fantastic program, and please do more of them!"

"I thought [the facilitator] broached very challenging information in a way that accepted and acknowledged the seriousness of the subject matter without making it seem like an impossible situation. Her attitude about our ability to affect change, her openness about her own connections, shortcomings, and triumphs, and her clear willingness to help us as we make our way through this was inspiring and empowering."

"[The facilitator] keeps things fun, relevant, and engaging. She makes you believe that you can make a difference and presents the material in a clear and accessible manner."