This year’s Week of Action was filled with events, speakers, and activities in support of the national “It’s On Us” campaign spanning from Monday, April 11, 2016, to Friday, April 15, 2016.
According to itsonus.org, the pledge is a personal commitment to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault; a promise not to be a bystander to the problem, but to be a part of the solution.
“The campaign is about helping students feel empowered to make a difference in their campus community. It is about standing up against domestic violence and sexual assault and telling the world that you do not tolerate abuse in any form,” said Kristin Bennet, Coordinator of Educational Services for RSS.
The week kicked off with the “Clothesline Project” on the Dougall Patio from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. At this event, students were encouraged to decorate a t-shirt to be hung on a clothesline with messages of dedication and support to those affected by domestic violence and sexual assault. The shirts have been hung on display in the New Upper Residence Hall (NURH) cafeteria. Shirts of all different colors and designs with mottos such as “Sspeak Uup!” and “Yyou’re Nnot Aalone!” serve as a reminder in a student hot spot on campus to all that this cause is crucial.
Parallel to the kickoff, RSS arranged a unique scavenger hunt for students at 3:30 p.m.: a search for resources available on campus for those who might be victims of these heinous actions. This included the Office of Health Services, The Counseling Center, and Police Station, which are all located in Downs Hall, among other safe spaces on campus.
On Tuesday, April 12, 2016, the Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs Task Force (AToD) presented a panel with speaker and sexual assault survivor Tim Mousseau. Throughout the conversation, Mousseau spoke of his experience: one day he got a letter in the mail, enclosed were photos of him being sexually assaulted. Unbeknownst to him, he had been drugged and attacked and these realizations lead to anger, depression, and alcoholism. Speaking to a crowd a students in the Little Theatere, he is determined to change the perspective on sexual assault and abuse.
“Our society framed the conversation on sexual assault… . . . that if you are sexually assaulted that you should be ashamed of that or you shouldn’t talk about it,” Mosseau.
Later that night at 8:30 p.m., the NURH screening room held a discussion panel about gender. The LGBTQ community has faced many adversities in recent years with transgendered individuals coming forth and the topic of gender as a social construct has become a prominent debate among young adults. Even Mosseau himself spoke out about sexual assault within the transgendered community during his discussion; csiting that 64 percent of those who identify as transgender will experience some form of sexual violence.
The next day, Wednesday, April 13, 2016, had a more relaxed agenda in comparison to the other intense events that took place prior. At 5 p.m. in Whiteman Hall Lounge, students gathered to analyze conflicts in relationships and learn how to deal with these issues. Following that at 9:30 p.m. in the Sozio Hall Community Center, Resident Hall Director (RHD) Tarie Taylor and her Resident Advisor (RA) staff held cooking lessons where they did not only learn how to cook but also learn how to identify the signs and dangers of domestic abuse.
“The events that we hold throughout the week serve to educate students about the signs and dangerous impact of sexual assault so that students can protect themselves and those around them,” said Bennet.
Thursday, April 14, 2016, presented fun activities such as tie-dying t-shirts and karaoke. “The Tie-Dye Effect of Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence” was used to represent the wide range of emotions experienced by victims of sexual assault and domestic violence. This program informed those presents of the resources available to them or those close. Karaoke For A Cause was held from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the NURH screening room. This event also shared statistics about sexual abuse and ways to recognize these situations to prevent them from happening at Kean University.
Black Eyes and Denim Day gave the community the opportunity to sport denim and their t-shirts on Friday, April 15, 2016 that they had previously created throughout the week. Men’s Group members also sported black eyes to help spread awareness of sexual assault and its impact on the male community.
“By keeping the dialogue open, we can continue to reach students and help them understand their role in protecting our campus from the issues of sexual assault and domestic violence,” said Bennet.
For more ways to get involved, visit www.itsonus.org or reach out to RSS with questions on how to get involved in their next Week of Action.
