CANTON -- SUNY Canton is implementing the Green Dot Bystander Intervention Training to make additional strides toward a safer campus.

The Green Dot slogan is "No one has to do everything, everyone has to do something."

The strategy gives students and other bystanders the means to intervene, interrupt or distract individuals before a problem erupts, according to Farren Lobdell, SUNY Canton's health educator and wellness coordinator.

"We want students to be able to recognize the potential dangers of a situation before it gets out of hand," Lobdell said. "If someone sees the possibility for harm here on campus – or anywhere – we want them to be responsive by stepping up and saying something."

Green Dot is an organization built on the premise that everyone can help measurably reduce power-based violence, or more specifically, sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking. Green Dots are used to counteract red dots, which typically demark an instance of personal violence on a map.

A Green Dot is any behavior‚ choice‚ word‚ or attitude that promotes safety and communicates intolerance for violence.

The college began a series of Green Dot trainings last semester and has already taught nearly 300 members of the college community about violence prevention.