MSU focuses on preventing sexual assault with It's On Us action week

MSUToday - Featured stories As part of its ongoing commitment to prevent, respond to and educate about sexual assault, partners across Michigan State University are teaming up for the It’s On Us Week of Action from March 20-24.
Events for the week aim to raise awareness around sexual violence, sex/gender discrimination and sexual harassment. MSU is hosting nationally recognized speaker Don McPherson and launching the inaugural Student Leadership Institute with the theme of Engaging and Empowering Men to Prevent Sexual Violence. Other events include a pledge drive, poster contest, movie screening and open forum.
It’s On Us was started nationally in 2014 by the White House to enable all members of campus communities to take a stand against sexual violence.
A national week of action occurs each fall, and many student groups, notably ASMSU, have taken part. Jessica Norris, MSU’s Title IX coordinator, said holding MSU-specific events during the spring semester helps reinforce key messages students received at the start of the school year.
“MSU is committed to creating and maintaining a campus community that is free from sexual violence, and this week represents a continued call to action as we build a culture that upholds our Spartan values,” Norris said. “These events will help spur dialogue and allow students to play an active role in fostering a community of caring and respect.”
The Week of Action, for which planning began in fall, supports many of the other ongoing efforts at MSU regarding relationship violence and sexual misconduct, from revamped training programs to a new bystander intervention program made possible by a state of Michigan grant.
“While our data show that we have made substantial progress in raising awareness at MSU regarding sexual violence, there is still more to be done as we work to turn awareness in to action,” Norris said.
Events for the week include:
March 20: Kick off to ...


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