Care. Include. Speak Up.
We are ALL responsible for building an environment in which every member of our Columbus State Community can feel safe and welcome.
Care.
Creating a safe and welcoming environment starts with a commitment to caring about each other and taking care of ourselves so we can show up as our best selves in the classroom and workplace.
Ways to show care …
- Do a regular check of your wellness. Are you over-tired, stressed, or struggling to maintain your mental health? If so, tap into the resources that will help you replenish.
- If you see someone struggling, ask how you can help—from picking up a dropped book in the hallway, to scheduling a joint study session—we all benefit from the connections we build when we make an effort to care.
- Remember that you can’t personally help everyone, but you can show them how to connect with campus resources like Counseling Services, the Mid-Ohio Market, Accessibility Services, or Suicide Prevention.
- If you notice a way to strengthen our campus community, don't wait for someone else to work the magic. Be the one to ask the question you know all your classmates are thinking! Participate in the College voter registration drive! Volunteer at the Mid-Ohio Market! Join a club! Or start a student organization you notice is missing!
- If you see someone who is stressed about a campus group they have joined, ask them some questions to help them determine if they are experiencing hazing. Learn more about hazing.
Include.
We are proud that the Columbus State community is made up of people from a great variety of races, ethnicities, gender identities, sexual orientations, abilities, religions, nationalities, socioeconomic backgrounds, and many other identities that shape our perspectives and life experiences. It’s on all of us to make sure every member of our institution feels supported and included in the classroom, in student organizations, and around campus—in both virtual and in-person gathering spaces.
Ways you can include ...
- Use inclusive and respectful language.
- Pay attention to the way people pronounce their names and make an effort to remember.
- Introduce yourself by saying your name and pronouns. (Example: My name is Mariana and I use she/her/hers pronouns.) Make an effort to remember and use people’s correct pronouns.
- Keep in mind that your religion or cultural values may not be shared by everyone around you. For example, don’t assume that your peers have plans to celebrate a particular holiday. Instead, ask a more general question about plans for the weekend.
- If you are part of a student group, invite others to join. Sometimes people are just waiting for an invitation to get involved.
- Pay attention when someone shares a perspective that’s new to you. Consider how it makes you think differently about your own perspective. Did you assume that your experience was the norm? If so, what do you think now?
Ways campus groups can include:
- Incorporate the ideas above as norms for your group.
- Offer activities for team members to get to know one another.
- Offer opportunities for group members to have an equal voice in decision making.
- Incorporate ways of welcoming people to a group that are voluntary and encouraging. Avoid behaviors that make people engage in activities that are embarrassing or potentially harmful in order to feel integrated into the group (also known as hazing): Check out the Anti-hazing training.
Speak Up.
In order to sustain a welcoming and inclusive environment, we must each be willing to speak up when we notice a situation that prevents or hinders someone’s ability to feel safe and supported.
Ways to speak up ...
- Be active in problematic situations (also known as bystander intervention):
- Calmly confront behaviors that are harmful or exclusive
- Support others who may have experienced a challenging situation
- Reach out to appropriate campus resources for guidance, reporting, and follow-up action
- If a situation doesn’t feel right, trust your gut and ask for help.
- Remember that even situations that seem personal—like harmful dating relationships, friendships, and other student interactions—impact a student’s ability to engage with their coursework. If you are concerned about someone, you can help them by checking in with them and making sure they know how to access services and file a report.
- Please visit the Columbus State Student Feedback page to report any concerns or share positive feedback
Interrupt Hazing
If you become aware of a student group using embarrassing or potentially harmful activities to initiate new members into the group, file a hazing report.
Watch Columbus State's Anti-Hazing Training video to learn more.