Activate a Support System

Faculty members undergoing these experiences will need help from mentors and colleagues who can listen and provide emotional support. It is important that victims not be isolated during these incidents. 

• Check in and ask if they have a support network. If they do not, consider asking a colleague to reach out to them regularly during this period.
• It is often helpful for faculty to talk to other faculty who have gone through similar situations. Contact Jennifer Lundquist, SBS Senior Associate Dean for Research and Faculty Development (@email).
• Encourage the faculty member to get in contact with one of MSP’s Faculty Advocates, who can attend meetings with the faculty member and provide support.
• Encourage them to seek mental health counseling at the Employee Counseling and Consultation Office (ECCO).
• Colleagues in the department and discipline can help with bystander intervention strategies, such as publicly defending the faculty member in comment sections, an op-ed, on Twitter (e.g., #ThankAPublicScholar hashtag), etc. However, they should be warned that this will potentially invite attacks on them as well. 
  • There are external resources for bystander strategies that can also be consulted, see HeartMob.
  • The Scholars Strategy Network’s Ben Miyamoto writes, “If it's helpful, we can likely help mobilize support from our nationwide network of researchers (about 1,500 now). 
    • “Beyond mobilizing support from our members (if/when it seems helpful), our comms team may be able to help with placement of pieces that counter their narrative: Laura Markwardt, (@email) Media and Communications Strategist 202-737-5900, ext. 3635.” 
• The faculty member can be encouraged to disengage from the harassment by having a friend monitor emails, social media, voice messages, etc. on their behalf. They can create a filter for incoming emails so that they do not have to view them. These messages should be preserved for potential future evidence. 
  • The tool Squadbox can help with this process.