Wright State University will host a series of events in observance of National It’s On Us Action Week between Nov. 9 and Nov. 13 to raise awareness about Title IX initiatives and sexual assault prevention on WSU’s campus.
It’s On Us is a national initiative launched by the White House in September, 2014 that aims to change the way we think about sexual assault, according to Lindsay Wight, WSU Title IX investigative and training officer.
“It's On Us is a rallying cry inviting everyone to step up and realize that the solution begins with us,” Wight said. “It’s a declaration that sexual assault is not only a crime committed by a perpetrator against a victim, but a societal problem in which all of us have a role to play. We are re-framing sexual assault in a way that inspires everyone to see it as their responsibility to do something, big or small, to prevent it.”
Wright State has held It’s On Us events in the past, according to Wight, but has never set aside a full week of consecutive events. Many organizations have joined the project, including Wright State’s Office of Equity and Inclusion, the Gender Based Intervention and Prevention Committee and the Wright State Women’s Center.
The week will kick off Monday with a short presentation and Q&A entitled, “What’s Going on with Title IX, & Why Should I Care?” Hosted by Wright State’s Title IX coordinator, the presentation will educate the university about Title IX and how it affects the campus.
The Women’s Center will follow the presentation with a screening of “The Hunting Ground,” a documentary that premiered at the Sundance Film Festival this year. Events will begin at 5 p.m. in the Student Union atrium.
Tuesday, Residence Life will host a screening of the documentary “It Happened Here,” at 7 p.m. in the 2nd floor Hawthorn Lounge.
Events will continue on Thursday with “The SPecifIX: Profess and Remedies of Title IX.” the panel, comprised of individuals from all over campus, will walk attendees through the process of filing a Title IX complaint with the university and answer common questions about reporting incidents. The panel will begin in the Elizabeth Dixon Hearth Lounge behind Jamba Juice at 5 p.m.
Throughout the week, students will be encouraged to take the It’s On Us pledge online during the events. T-shirts and stickers will be given out to all who decide to take the pledge, which all students are encouraged to wear on Friday, Nov. 13, to spread awareness to the masses.
For more information on It’s On Us, visit itsonus.org.
