This Valentine's season, the Title IX Office at BYU is helping students decide: What is a red flag and a green flag in their relationships?
This is the season of flowers and paper hearts, but it's also a reminder to take off the rose-tinted glasses and look out for the warning signs of an unhealthy relationship.
The problem is, some students don't know where to look. Abigail Morrison, deputy Title IX coordinator, said the Title IX Office is there to help with its relationship workshop.
"We see questions about content and boundaries come up all the time in the Title IX office,” Morrison said. “We hold events like these, hopefully to help students be able to develop some of those relational skills."
Topics in the red flags, green flags workshop included consent, boundaries and toxic behaviors.
"I'll definitely be paying attention to respect, boundaries and consent, because a lot of times those boundaries can get pushed a little bit,” said Julia Nielson, a BYU student. “I'm easily swayed — which is good and bad, but usually bad — so I've got to make sure I stay firm on my boundaries."
During the presentation, Morrison explained how red flags can be warning signs of dating violence.
"Something that I felt it reaffirmed for me, is there are things to watch out for,” Johnathan Shelley said. “Being manipulative, gaslighting being dismissive — we joke about a lot of that on social media, but they are real, and you do need to look out."
The workshop was designed to be interactive. Students submitted some of their red and green flags to a communal word cloud, and the activity wrapped up with a Kahoot quiz.
"I love interacting with students,” Morrison said. “I love seeing: what are they thinking about, what are their concerns, and, hopefully, we can be responsive to that."
Students said they left with a few more tools they can use to recognize red flags and stay safe in their relationships.
"It's not being too picky, because they are important things,” Shelley said. “You know, your relationships and happiness do matter."
If an individual has experienced dating violence or if it is uncertain, contact BYU's Title IX Office for more information and support.