Milling through the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union Friday, students and faculty members spent the first leg of their fall break learning ways to identify and prevent bullying.

Focusing on the theme of safety, security and support, those registered went through workshops and seminars learning how to help prevent bullying not only in classroom settings, but online, too.

The “Bridging Voices in Our Community: Bullying Conference,” went all day throughout the Union Friday.

Following a performance by members of the EIU Dancers, Justin Patchin, the co-director of the Cyberbullying Research Center, kicked off the conference with his keynote address.

Patchin, a criminal justice professor at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, addressed the audience about what teens are doing online.

“Technology moves quickly,” he said. “Sometimes we lose sight of that.”

One thing Patchin focused on was how to educate students about the dangers of using online-based technology, such as social networking sites.

“The No. 1 death by teens are car accidents,” he said.

Patchin then explained the rigorous education system in place for learning how to drive – everything from the classroom setting, to the test taking, to the car driving.

“But then we hand them a cell phone and say, ‘Don’t do anything stupid,’” Patchin said. “We need to teach our kids how to use technology.”

Patchin pointed out the idea behind bullying was that it was repetitive, and not just a one time occurrence.

Patchin described bullying – specifically cyberbullying – as willful and repeated harm inflicted through computers, cell phones or other electronic devices.

Following his overview of cyberbullying, Patchin hosted a breakout session to discuss various ways of prevention.

His presentation focused on positive school climate, as well as different ways to accomplish this climate.

A few of these ways included watching over peer pressure and peer mentoring as solutions to educating about the misuse of technology.

Different methods were also incorporated throughout the sessions during the conference, including the use of picture and chapter books that conveyed the issue of bullying.

The session, “Using Bibliotherapy to Address Bullying,” ran by Denise Reid, an early childhood, elementary and middle level education professor, and Kristlyn Dalton, a graduate student in the elementary education program, explored strategies to integrate reading, writing, speaking and listening in dealing with bullying.

Sessions also included teaching younger children on ways to identify and intervene with bullying.

The sessions also moved past just general preventions types and focused on specific groups who could be targeted in cyberbullying.

EIU Pride hosted a panel about members of the LGBT community can be targets for cyberbullying, and their own experiences.

Mildred Pearson, a professor in the Department of Early Childhood, Elementary and Middle Level Education, said the conference was about support – support from everyone.

“Words wound,” Pearson said. “This is a day about healing.”

Bob Galuski can be reached at 581-2812 or [email protected].