Advocates at NDSU give information on preventing violence

Kyle Meyer is a graduate student at North Dakota State working on preventing violence in specific bystanders. “People will continue to do things and get away with things if they know no one is going to do anything,” Meyer said.

This type of responsibility is not mandated under the law, and intervening is not mandatory under the law in North Dakota. “The laws in Minnesota are somewhat vague about being responsible in intervening,” Meyer said. “There are states that will hold you somewhat responsible if you helped perpetrate violence or didn’t help when you could.”

Meyer explained his “Three Ds” for intervening in violent situations. “The Three Ds are direct, delegate and distract,” Meyer said. “Delegate and distract are pretty self-explanatory, but direct is just getting directly involved.” This can be tough for a lot of people, according to Meyer.

Meyer said there are many reasons he receives for people not wanting to get involved. “That can be a lot of different reasons, you know. That’s not my business when I see two people arguing or hurting each other,” Meyer said. “Why would I stem into a fight when I know that puts me in danger?”

When it comes to people with more explicit barriers to intervene, Meyer said they should seek out help from other people: “I think it’s always a good idea to ask other people to help. You know, the whole strength in numbers thing.”

Meyer said the delegate and distract part of the Three Ds can keep people out of harm’s way.

Violence around campus is not connected to the school, and Meyer said he thinks it coincides with the large amount of people in a small area. “When we get a large amount of people in the same spot, we increase the chance of someone getting hurt.”

Megan Talcott is a sexual assault prevention and advocacy coordinator at NDSU.

Students are referred to Talcott in many different ways, including directly to her office. Talcott said she is considered a confidential reporter, which means students can talk to her without having to worry about Title IX.