On September 23, 2025, the University of Illinois Springfield’s Access and Equity Peer Educators hosted a discussion-based trivia event titled “Are You Toxic?” at Lincoln Residence Hall. The evening invited students to test their knowledge about healthy and unhealthy relationship behaviors with food, prizes, and open conversation.
“It is kind of a heavy topic,” said Evelyn Martinez, one of the Access and Equity Peer Educators who helped lead the event. “A lot of people do not want to have those conversations. They expect it to be uncomfortable or even awkward.”
The event featured a 25-question trivia game organized into categories such as Healthy Relationships, Unhealthy Relationships, and General Knowledge. Participants worked in three small teams, supported by fact sheets explaining key terms and concepts.
Bethany Burbridge, program coordinator for the Office of Access and Equity, said the event was designed to help students distinguish between toxic behaviors and toxic people.
“The goal was to recognize that certain behaviors may be toxic, but that does not mean people themselves are toxic,” Burbridge explained. “You may exhibit unhealthy behaviors sometimes, but that does not define your character.”
For Martinez, the event was also about awareness and access.
“It is important for students to know what resources exist on campus and what to do if they need help,” she said. “That is why we show up.”
One student attendee, who asked to remain anonymous, said the session gave them new vocabulary to understand their own experiences.
“In therapy, one of my goals is learning to set healthy boundaries,” the student said. “I learned a new term tonight, volatility, and it helped me put a name to feelings I have had in past relationships.”
Burbridge emphasized that toxic behaviors are not limited to romantic partners.
“You see these behaviors in friendships, family, even at work,” she said. “Recognizing them early helps everyone’s overall well-being.”
The Access and Equity Office will continue hosting awareness-based programming throughout the semester, including a Halloween-themed event on October 28. Details are available on the UIS Connections page.
