BrianYoder Schlabach, Goshen College News and Media Manager
GOSHEN — In the spring of 2015, seven students at Goshen College created a bystander intervention training program aimed at educating the student body on how to intervene in potentially harmful situations.
Today, that group is better known as the Prevention Intervention Network (PIN) on campus.
PIN began with support from Kendra Yoder, associate professor social work, and financial backing from the office of student life and then-Dean of Students Launa Leftwich. The students and Yoder received training from the University of New Hampshire’s Bringing in the Bystander Program in March of 2015.
In the nearly three years since PIN began providing peer-led programming, they have trained almost the entire campus community – more than 800 Goshen College students, faculty, and staff – to be prosocial bystanders, along with more than 300 high school students and community members.
They have also developed programming to address how to be an effective bystander for students while studying abroad and facilitate a regular fall and spring program with all outgoing students and faculty. This semester, PIN has 17 active educators.
“Bystander education is important on this campus and on every other college campus,” said Rowan Miller, a junior social work major from Millersburg, Ohio, and a PIN educator. “Sexual assault on college campuses is a very serious problem and educating people on how to be positive bystanders during, before and after an incident of assault occurs will make our campus a safer place.”
With leadership from Yoder and Beth Martin Birky, professor of English and director of women’s and gender studies, PIN has trained and utilized the skills and talents of 30 different GC students to lead and facilitate bystander trainings. PIN educators commit to at least 25 hours of training and weekly meetings as part of their commitment to the program.
“PIN education allows for a space to talk about all of the topics that are in need of attention,” said Sharada Weaver, a sophomore nursing major from Hyattsville, Maryland, and a PIN educator. “We are able to educate others on sexual assault and how to be the best and most equipped bystanders. Being a part of PIN not only educates us but allows us to carry and polish tools to educate others."