Red Zone

The “Red Zone” refers to the time between Orientation Week and Halloween when students, especially first year students, are more likely to experience sexual violence on campus. The red zone occurs because students are away from home, often for the first time, and are therefore away from their support groups. They are not familiar yet with campus or community supports, there is pressure to fit in and be liked, there are many social gatherings which may include alcohol and other drugs and there is a good chance they did not receive the sex, consent and relationship education which could have helped them navigate this new frontier.  

How to Help Prevent the Red Zone 

• Use consent in your day-to-day interactions, and your sexual interactions.
• Disrupt and challenge social norms and language that promote and/or uphold rape culture - promote consent culture.
• Take no for an answer the first time you hear it.
• Practice accepting rejection.
• Set clear boundaries and ask others about their boundaries.
• Be an active bystander – intervene directly or indirectly when you see harm, if you feel safe doing so. 
• Support people who have experienced harm – listen, believe them, let them know it was not their fault, share resources.
• Take a SVPRO training about Active Bystander Intervention and/or How to Respond to a Disclosure of Sexual Violence.
• Learn about on and off campus supports - share this information with others