The B.A.D.A.S.S. campaign, which stands for “Being Aware, Deciding to Act, and Saying Something” aims to create a community of active bystanders. “Instead of being a passive bystander, we can create a campus community where we all recognize the role we play and have everyone feel safe,” said Heather Horton, Director of the Wellness Resource Center.
The campaign focuses on three aspects: stopping sexual and relationship violence, responding to people in distress, and generating an inclusive community at Colorado College. B.A.D.A.S.S. training strives to teach community members how to distinguish problem situations and then provide the resources to know how to intervene appropriately.
“Being Aware” entails knowing the various safety concerns in your community and critically looking at the “norms” and in order to recognize which of those are problematic.
The premise behind B.A.D.A.S.S. is educating oneself about these different situations, so one is able to handle it appropriately. Horton stressed the ability to identify barriers to taking action because once those are understood, people are more likely to take action.
“‘Deciding to Act’ means not being a passive bystander and feeling responsible to deal with the problem,” said Horton. An aspect of this principle is taking responsibility for the role you play, which can lead a person to be more empowered to act. Heather Horton explained that there are various situations, in which it is appropriate for a B.A.D.A.S.S. to intervene.
B.A.D.A.S.S. training emphasizes that being a BADASS does not require a dramatic action; it can be as simple as asking if a person is okay. BADASS training stresses this element of safety throughout the community, and Bystander Action can promote this safety.
The Sexual Assault Response Coordinator (SARC) and works closely with the Wellness Resource Center to collaborate on various initiatives and events.
“Maria Mendez, the new SARC, will be working closely with us, as she is trying to a sense of all things happening on campus,” said Horton. “However, the nature of the BADASS training sessions will not change much. We refine the training every time we do it.”
“We do the Basic Certification training for student organizations, residence hall floors, etc. and really anyone who would like to participate,” explained Horton.
In addition to the Basic Certification, the Wellness Resource Center offers additional training, in partnership with the Butler Center, on what microagressions look like and exclusion on campus. In addition, The Wellness Resource Center offers workshops on how to help a friend, mental health first aid course, sex education, and empowerment workshops.