Amid a global pandemic, MSU’s Prevention, Outreach and Education Department is finding innovative ways to keep students engaged with relationship violence and sexual misconduct prevention programming through the first virtual It’s On Us Week of Action Nov. 9-13.
The White House initiated It’s On Us in 2014 to encourage campus communities to take a stand against sexual violence. The national week of action each fall and spring involves student groups and university units, and supports multiple MSU RVSM programs.
It’s On Us Week at MSU started as a student-led initiative by the Associated Students of Michigan State University. POE takes an active role in helping to coordinate such events, which typically take place on campus. This semester, however, events will take place mostly through webinars, self-care activities and daily social media challenges.
“Through It’s On Us’ week, we can continue to empower our campus on different ways to prevent sexual and relationship violence and grow as a community,” said Kelly Schweda, director of POE. “Despite all that is going on in the world, it is still important to join together in supporting survivors who are healing.”
This year’s keynote address will be delivered by author Chanel Miller during a fireside chat webinar at 6 p.m. on Nov. 10. Pre-registration is required.
Miller is a writer and artist who earned her bachelor’s degree in literature from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Her critically acclaimed memoir, "Know My Name," was a New York Times bestseller, a New York Times Book Review Notable Book and a National Book Critics Circle Award winner, as well as a best book of 2019 in Time, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, NPR and People magazine, among others. She is a 2019 Time Next 100 honoree and a 2016 Glamour Woman of the Year honoree under her pseudonym, "Emily Doe."
“We are very excited to welcome Chanel Miller to MSU for the It’s On Us Week of Action this Fall,” said Damaris Crocker DeRuiter, a prevention specialist in POE. “Chanel’s writing focuses on how personal narrative and empowerment play a role in survivors finding their voice and reclaiming themselves and their stories, and I believe MSU students, faculty, staff and community members will be incredibly inspired by her words.”
For more information on Miller, please visit prhspeakers.com.
Additional activities during the It’s On Us Week of Action include:
- Letters to survivors — ongoing; letters can be submitted by email to naberkat@msu.edu.
- Trauma-sensitive yoga hosted by the Center for Survivors — 1-2 p.m. Nov. 12; please email nelsenca@msu.edu to register.
- Coloring pages — ongoing; coloring sheets can be found on the POE website.
- Daily Instagram challenges — ongoing; follow @MSUPOE on Instagram for daily updates.
Sponsors and partners of this year’s It’s On Us events include MSU’s Prevention, Outreach and Education Department; MSU Residence Hall Association; ASMSU; MSU Center for Survivors; MSU Women Student Services; MSU Police Department; LBGT Resource Center; Fraternity and Sorority Life; MSU Pompon and MSU Safe Place.
For more information, visit @msupoe on Instagram.com.