‘It’s On Us’ week, April 2-6, marks start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month

Michigan State University students, faculty, staff and community partners will mark the start of Sexual Assault Awareness Month with a series of educational activities and events during the "It's On Us" Week of Action, April 2-6. 

The events are coordinated in support of efforts to prevent, respond to and educate the MSU community about relationship violence and sexual misconduct. The "It's On Us" Week of Action is designed to raise awareness around these issues as well as the university's programs and services. 

"MSU is committed to creating a safe, caring, and respectful campus community," said Jessica Norris, associate vice president of the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance. "The 'It's On Us' Week of Action provides an opportunity to unite and empower the community in our work to end relationship violence and sexual misconduct and foster culture change at MSU. All MSU faculty, staff and students are encouraged to participate."

As part of the week, Steve Thompson, aggression services director at Central Michigan University, will discuss ways to use individual and collective action to confront sexual aggression and influence change. The keynote address is scheduled for Thursday, April 5 at 5 p.m. in Wells Hall, Room B117.

Other "It's On Us" Week of Action events and activities include:

• Self-Defense Workshop
  Monday, April 2 from 7 to 8 p.m. at the IM Circle Dance Studio, Room 218
  The MSU Self-Defense Program will lead an introductory self-defense workshop.
  
  
• Healing Tree Craft Night
  Tuesday, April 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the MSU Union, Room 50
  Participants will use crafts to create a healing tree made up of supportive messages for survivors of relationship violence and sexual misconduct.
  
  
• Self-Care Yoga
  Wednesday, April 4 from 7 to 8 p.m. in the Broad Art Museum, Education wing
  The yoga class will be led by certified yoga instructors and therapists from the MSU Sexual Assault Program.
  
  
• Human Teal Ribbon and Resource Fair
  Friday, April 6 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the Duffy Daugherty Football Building
  Receive a teal T-shirt while supplies last, and join attendees to form the shape of a ribbon. Representatives from a variety of on- and off-campus resources related to sexual assault and relationship violence will also share information with participants. Use the West Shaw Lane entrance to access the event. 

• Teal Lights at the Broad Art Museum
  All week
  The museum will place teal lights in its windows in support of the week of action.  

Several student organizations and campus programs, including ASMSU, the Residence Halls Association, the MSU It's On Us Student Group, the Self-Defense Program and the Sexual Assault Program, have partnered with the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Education and Compliance to plan and coordinate the week of action.

"It's On Us" was started in 2014 by the White House to assist universities across the country in taking a stand against sexual violence and was originally launched at MSU by ASMSU.

For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/ItsOnUsMSU/.