Bystander Intervention

Be Bold. Be G.O.L.D.

You have the power to make a difference!

At Nazareth University, we believe everyone has a role in creating a safe, inclusive, and supportive community. Be Bold. Be G.O.L.D. is our bystander intervention program, designed to help students recognize when something is happening, consider their values, and feel empowered to take action.

Be G.O.L.D. stands for:

Ground yourself in your values:
Know what matters to you and the kind of community you want to create.

Observe the situation:
Notice what’s happening around you and take personal responsibility in recognizing when someone may need support.

Listen with empathy:
Listen to others with concern and care. Understand that we all hold different identities and life experiences which influences how we see and perceive the world.

Decide to act:
Choose an intervening action that feels safe, appropriate, and true to your values.

Whether you notice a friend who may need support, a concerning situation, bias or harassment, hazing, or another behavior that could negatively impact our community, G.O.L.D. provides a framework for deciding how you can respond.

What are the 5 D’s of Bystander Intervention?

Students can use the 5 D’s of Bystander Intervention to choose an approach that feels safe and appropriate:

  • Direct – Address the situation directly.
  • Distract – Interrupt or redirect the situation.
  • Delegate – Ask someone else for help or support.
  • Delay – Check in or take action after the situation has occurred. Create a
  • Document – Record what happened when it is safe and appropriate to do so. It is important to remember that any documentation should be provided to the impacted individual and not used for your own personal gain or the entertainment of others.

You don’t have to be the loudest person in the room or have all the answers. Small actions can make a big difference. Step in. Speak up. Check in. Get help. Be the person who helps create a community where everyone feels seen, supported, and respected.

Being a bystander means having the courage to notice, care, and act. Be bold. Be G.O.L.D.

How can my friends and I stay safe?

Have a plan.
Talk with your friends about your plans for the night BEFORE you go out. Do you feel like drinking? Are you interested in hooking up? Where do you want to go? Having a clear plan ahead of time helps friends look after one another.

Go out together.
Go out as a group and come home as a group. Never separate and never leave your friend(s) behind. Being with others is a good idea when a situation looks dangerous.

Watch out for others.
If you are walking at night with friends and notice a woman walking by herself in the same direction, ask her to join you so she doesn’t have to walk alone.

Defuse situations.
If you see a friend coming on too strong to someone who may be too drunk to make a consensual decision, interrupt, distract, or redirect the situation. If you are too embarrassed or shy to speak out, get someone else to step in. Call (911) or Nazareth University Campus Safety at 585-389-3850 or someone else in authority or yell for help to draw attention to the situation.

Trust your instincts.
If a situation or person doesn’t seem “right” to you, trust your gut and remove yourself, if possible, from the situation.