If the HUB is not a playground, then what’s with the room full of green balloons?

Nearly impossible to miss Tuesday night, a room on the upper floor of the new HUB was filled to the brim with balloons, but they’re not just there for fun. The balloons are part of Stand for State’s launch that’s taking over the HUB today, Wednesday, Jan. 27.

The launch, which will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., aims to create a safer environment by addressing issues such as sexual misconduct and relationship violence. In the Balloon Room, participants will be able to have conversations with prominent students and professionals about bystander intervention and what exactly is needed order to create this safer, “greener” environment.

The primary goal for the launch and its activities is to both inform community members of the Stand for State initiative as well as show how the Green Dot method can give Penn Staters the tools they need to take action and shut down dangerous situations. Events like the Balloon Room were created in order to show participants exactly what a safer community would look like.

In addition to the Balloon Room, there will be a variety of other stations aimed at informing the Penn State community about the Stand for State initiative and how bystander intervention can prevent instances of sexual and relationship violence. Other interactive and informative activities include a photo booth where participants can show they Stand for State with posts to social media (which is one of the ways that the initiative hopes to spread awareness and support, use #StandforState to chime in). There will also be interactive stations where you can learn about power-based violence and what you can do to prevent it. And as with any good HUB event, there will be free food and other giveaways.

So if you’ve always dreamed of standing in a room full of bright green balloons, stop by the HUB to learn a little bit more about Stand for State and bystander intervention.