Tyler Clementi was a Rutgers University student who committed suicide in 2010 after his roommate spied on him having a sexual liaison, broadcasting it to other students over social media and mocking him for his sexuality. Since then, the Clementi family has been committed to remembering Tyler’s life by committing resources to combating all forms of bullying. This Sunday, the Tyler Clementi Foundation unveiled a new campaign to stop bullying before it happens — on “Day 1.”
The new campaign, built on a framework of empirical research on what kinds of programs help reduce bullying, asks teachers, bosses, and other group leaders to set a precedent when any group meets for the first time. At that initial meeting, the supervisor reads the “Day 1 Declaration,” which explicitly outlines what kind of behavior will not be tolerated. “So let me be clear,” the script reads, “Any act of bullying, harassment, or humiliation against another person — student or adult, online or offline — is against our values. Any cruel words, actions, or attempts to harm someone’s reputation will not be accepted.” It outlines some examples of identities that should not be subjected to cruelty, such as their sexuality, whether they conform to gender norms, body shape or size, socioeconomic status, and religion (including having no religious beliefs).
Everyone then signs the “Day 1 Upstander Pledge.” “Upstanding” — as opposed to “bystanding” — is a core tenet of the program. “When I witness bullying at school, home, work, online, or in my place of worship, I will not be a bystander,” the pledge reads. “Instead I will intervene or report the abuse, and I will reach out to the bullied person to offer support. I will work to make others feel safe and included by showing respect and compassion.”
In an interview unveiling the campaign to CBS Sunday Morning this weekend, Tyler’s mom Jane talked about how it felt being a bystander at a church that declared homosexuality a sin — a church the family eventually left. “I know that when Tyler told me he was gay,” she said, “what I really wanted was a person of faith, another Christian mom, to go and talk to. But, you know, no one in my faith community ever talked about having a gay child. No one had a gay relative; there was no ‘gay’ in our church! And until families come out and can be found, you can’t help each other.”
The declaration offers specific guidance for how students should respond as upstanders. For example, “If you see someone doing harm to another person, report it or if you feel safe, try to stop it. Joining in or doing nothing is not being respectful or kind.” It advises those who might be bullied about how to respond directly and also encourages people who might be accused of bullying to “listen and make amends.”
Actress Megan Mullally (Will & Grace) outlines the principles behind the Day 1 campaign in its launch video:
Sean Kosofsky, Executive Director of the Tyler Clementi Foundation, told ThinkProgress that this emphasis on prevention and upstanding makes Day 1 unique. While many programs address how to respond when bullying happens, “This intervention works before bullying occurs instead of trying to remedy incidents after the fact,” Kosofsky explained.
He said it’s also important to recognize that “the bystander is an incredibly important role when addressing bullying.” Teachers can remind students about the pledge or the specifics throughout the year to help reinforce a culture that resists bullying. “Too often we ignore bad things when they happen in front of us, convincing ourselves it is none of our business. Being an upstander means intervening if it is safe or reporting the incident and finally reaching out to the bullied individual to make sure they’re OK. That expression of kindness can mean everything.” The project will also curate videos from across the country featuring stories about how bullying was successfully interrupted that can help facilitate future conversations.
Anti-bullying researcher Dr. Dorothy Espelage, professor of educational psychology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, has endorsed the campaign because it reflects what studies have shown makes the biggest difference to stop bullying. “A critical component of any school initiative to stop bullying has to include a transparent and direct statement from teachers, staff, and administrators,” she explains on the Day 1 website. “In my research, when staff have a clear statement and focus on creating a positive school climate, students bully less and intervene more to help their peers.”
In fact, there are nine different research-based assumptions that inform the effectiveness of the Day 1 campaign:
- Tone and climate are set and modeled by those in authority.
- Verbally stating opposition to bullying is more effective than assuming that it is understood because of a written policy.
- Specificity and clarity about what kind of behavior is unacceptable is more effective at preventing those kinds of behaviors.
- Telling people what they should do (upstanding), as opposed to just what not to do, helps them better respond to bullying and model good behavior for others.
- Prevention is more effective than intervention because it doesn’t require bullying to take place before instruction is offered.
- By taking the pledge, participants reiterate what is expected of them, and this confirmation helps them retain the instructions.
- Remediation is still important when bullying occurs, but they should be enforced fairly and consistently.
- Having a safe and trusted authority figure to talk to can be a lifesaver for those who may be suffering in silence.
- Focusing on specific kinds of bullying motivations (such as a person’s weight or LGBT identity) ensures that they don’t go unaddressed.
Espelage admits that there is no “silver bullet” to stop bullying, but Day 1 equips group leaders with language and techniques informed by research. Furthermore, the program will continue to assess its own effectiveness so that it can add to the research on bullying and improve upon itself in the future.
Day 1 is now inviting educators, coaches, Greek organizations, clubs, offices, and any other group out there to join the campaign. When classes resume at the end of summer, schools can start the new year off with a new commitment to a safe and supportive learning environment.