Beyond the Binge
From the DARCC Education Department
There's something special about a story that stays with you long after the credits roll. Maybe it's a character you relate to, a difficult conversation that feels familiar, or a moment that makes you stop and think, "What would I have done?" This summer, Off Campus has become one of those stories.
Based on the bestselling book series by Elle Kennedy, the show follows a group of college students as they navigate relationships, friendship, trauma, healing, and the challenges of campus life. While the romance has captured the attention of viewers across social media, we couldn't help but notice something else woven throughout the series: conversations that matter.
Allies to Advocates (A2A) is DARCC's college internship and prevention program that equips students to become advocates on their own campuses. A2A interns help lead campus clubs, host events, create prevention initiatives, and start conversations with their peers about sexual violence, healthy relationships, consent, and supporting survivors.
At A2A, we believe prevention starts with conversation. The media we consume influences how we think about relationships, communication, consent, and the choices we make. While Off Campus is a fictional series and doesn't represent every person's experience, it gives us opportunities to pause and ask important questions about the situations unfolding on screen.
As we watched, we found ourselves looking beyond the plot and focusing on the moments that often go undiscussed. What does healthy communication actually look like? How do we know when someone's boundaries are being respected? What can we learn about supporting survivors? How do trauma, trust, and healing shape relationships? Those conversations inspired the A2A Off Campus Watch Guide.
We've developed an interactive companion guide that encourages viewers to engage with each episode through a prevention lens. Every episode explores a different topic, from boundaries and consent to healthy communication, trauma, supporting survivors, and breaking unhealthy relationship patterns. Along the way, you'll find discussion questions, reflection prompts, activities, and practical takeaways designed to help connect what happens on screen to everyday life.
Whether you're watching by yourself, with roommates, friends, your partner, or your student organization, we hope this guide encourages you to think a little deeper about the relationships portrayed in the series. Some moments may affirm healthy behaviors. Others may challenge the way we think about communication, respect, or the ways we respond when someone shares their story. Every episode offers an opportunity to learn, reflect, and continue conversations that extend beyond the screen.
Our hope isn't that everyone walks away with the same opinion about the show. Instead, we hope readers leave with a greater understanding of what healthy relationships look like, how to recognize behaviors that may cause harm, and how each of us can contribute to safer, more supportive campus communities. Because the most meaningful part of a story isn't always what happens during the episode. Sometimes, it's the conversation that begins after the credits roll.
A Note to Readers
Off Campus is a work of fiction. The A2A Off Campus Watch Guide is intended to encourage discussion around healthy relationships, consent, communication, trauma, and supporting survivors. Every survivor's experience is unique, and no television series can fully represent every person's story or healing journey. We encourage readers to use this guide as a conversation starter while recognizing that real-life experiences are diverse and deeply personal.