2008 Woodie Awards
RSSSpeaker: Take action in dangerous situations
By Becca Raphael
Issue date: 11/6/07 Section: News
After discovering a potential terrorist in an airport after Sept. 11, Brett Sokolow uses his experiences to educate students across the country on campus safety.
Sokolow's Oct. 29 lecture, "What if the Plane Blew Up?" is part of a program aimed to increase bystander intervention in dangerous situations, especially among all-male groups such as men's sports teams.
Sokolow is president of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management.
According to the NCHERM Web site, the center offers consulting services and workshops in areas such as sexual misconduct, drug abuse and drinking.
Shortly after Sept. 11, Sokolow was waiting to board a flight at Newark Liberty International Airport when he saw a man soaked head-to-toe in sweat, smelling of alcohol and smoking a cigarette in the terminal.
Sokolow said at first he did not choose to act out of fear of embarrassing himself or causing a scene.
Sokolow watched as another male bystander called security when the man attempted to board the plane.
Sokolow and four other men joined in the effort to hold the man until security arrived.
Sokolow said the only reason why he chose to help was because someone else acted first.
Airport security discovered fake plastic explosives strapped to the traveler's chest.
The traveler intended the whole scene to test the new security systems after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Sokolow encouraged audience members to share their own experiences of bystander intervention.
In the past, students have spoken about abuse, rape, eating disorders and hazing, Sokolow said.
Sokolow did not ask the audience to share their own stories of victimization.
"If you ask for those stories, you elicit survivor stories," Sokolow said. "You don't want to solicit survivors among groups of possible predators."
Andrew Coen, head coach of the football team, said the program, mandatory for football players, conveyed an important message for his team.
"My expectation was hopefully that our guys will benefit from it and think about how their actions, or lack of action, can always make a difference," Coen said.
Chris Morrin, '08, a member of Break the Silence, said the issue of sexual assault was an important part of Sokolow's lecture.
"Sokolow framed it well," Morrin said. "Maybe you won't know them. Maybe you will. The point is not just to protect your friends who are important to you, but to protect everyone, because everyone is important to someone."
Sokolow's Oct. 29 lecture, "What if the Plane Blew Up?" is part of a program aimed to increase bystander intervention in dangerous situations, especially among all-male groups such as men's sports teams.
Sokolow is president of the National Center for Higher Education Risk Management.
According to the NCHERM Web site, the center offers consulting services and workshops in areas such as sexual misconduct, drug abuse and drinking.
Shortly after Sept. 11, Sokolow was waiting to board a flight at Newark Liberty International Airport when he saw a man soaked head-to-toe in sweat, smelling of alcohol and smoking a cigarette in the terminal.
Sokolow said at first he did not choose to act out of fear of embarrassing himself or causing a scene.
Sokolow watched as another male bystander called security when the man attempted to board the plane.
Sokolow and four other men joined in the effort to hold the man until security arrived.
Sokolow said the only reason why he chose to help was because someone else acted first.
Airport security discovered fake plastic explosives strapped to the traveler's chest.
The traveler intended the whole scene to test the new security systems after the Sept. 11 attacks.
Sokolow encouraged audience members to share their own experiences of bystander intervention.
In the past, students have spoken about abuse, rape, eating disorders and hazing, Sokolow said.
Sokolow did not ask the audience to share their own stories of victimization.
"If you ask for those stories, you elicit survivor stories," Sokolow said. "You don't want to solicit survivors among groups of possible predators."
Andrew Coen, head coach of the football team, said the program, mandatory for football players, conveyed an important message for his team.
"My expectation was hopefully that our guys will benefit from it and think about how their actions, or lack of action, can always make a difference," Coen said.
Chris Morrin, '08, a member of Break the Silence, said the issue of sexual assault was an important part of Sokolow's lecture.
"Sokolow framed it well," Morrin said. "Maybe you won't know them. Maybe you will. The point is not just to protect your friends who are important to you, but to protect everyone, because everyone is important to someone."
