After an engaging week of events last fall, Michigan State University’s Prevention, Outreach and Education Department announced the event lineup for this spring’s It’s On Us Week of Action that runs April 3 to 7.

The MSU campus community can participate by joining events that help spread awareness of resources and useful information related to the prevention of sexual violence, sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence. 

These efforts are part of the Prevention, Outreach and Education Department’s mission of empowering community commitment to prevent gender-based violence through education, outreach and social change. POE works diligently to engage with the MSU community on many levels, from student-led initiatives, including It’s On Us events, to the prevention goals outlined in the Relationship Violence and Sexual Misconduct Strategic Plan.

“This spring, the It’s On Us planning committee is bringing a very mindful series of events to campus that will be engaging and bring awareness to many facets of prevention that have not been represented in the past,” said Kelly Schweda, director of POE. “We are excited to continue to work together to prevent gender-based violence at MSU and empower the campus community to become agents of change.” 

In partnership with the Residence Halls Association, Center for Survivors and MSU Safe Place, POE will sponsor the following events:

• Monday, April 3: Tabling at People’s Park outside of Wells Hall. Free giveaways while supplies last, 1 to 4 p.m.
• Monday, April 3: Vision-Boarding Healthy Relationships, STEM Teaching and Learning Facility, Room 1001, 5 to 6 p.m. 
• Tuesday, April 4: Lunch and Learn: Making Boundaries Your Bestie, Brody Hall, Room 175, 1 to 2 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 4: Know More Survey Results Discussion Session, 6 to 7 p.m. via Zoom
• Wednesday, April 5: The Bandana Project: Taking Action, Brody Square Atrium, noon to 2 p.m.
• Thursday, April 6: Lunch and Learn: “It’s Complicated” Virtual and Cyber Safety, Brody Hall, Room 175, 1 to 2 p.m.
• Friday, April 7: Let’s Grow! A free activity painting pots (free plants and pots while supplies last), People’s Park outside Wells Hall, 2 to 4 p.m.

“This week is not only about fun and freebies, but also gathering our community around a topic that we take extremely seriously,” said Alex Babbitt, POE peer education manager. “Through It’s On Us Week of Action, we hope to encourage one another to become mindful and generate change in relationship violence and sexual misconduct prevention and response.” 

It’s On Us Week was established in 2014 by the Obama Administration to encourage campus communities to take a stand against sexual violence. MSU has had a long-standing history of weeks of action and student-led initiatives around the It’s On Us movement.

For more information about It’s On Us Week of Action, follow POE on Instagram.

By Kathleen Mahoney.