Sticks and Stones May Break Our Bones, and Verbal Abuse WILL Hurt Us

Abstract

When playground bullies enter college, residence hall facilities can become their new “sandbox,” and gender-based discriminatory language is one way bullying can manifest itself.  By the time sexual and/or physical abuse materializes, campus personnel often ask themselves what they could have done to prevent such actions.  The author shares personal experience addressing this issue on both building-wide and individual student levels.  In order to create real and meaningful change, collaborative partnerships are formed which break down barriers between student affairs and academic affairs.  Addressing verbal abuse with intentional collaborative sanctioning, the author argues, serves as a positive form of both reactive and proactive assault education.