HATTIESBURG, Miss.- Students at the University of Southern Mississippi are joining in on the fight to end sexual assault on college campuses. The “It’s On Us” campaign originally was started in the White House by President Barack Obama, and has spread to campuses all across the country, finally making it’s way to Mississippi. The initiative involves a pledge that states this:
To RECOGNIZE that non-consensual sex is sexual assault. To IDENTIFY situations in which sexual assault may occur. To INTERVENE in situations where consent has not or cannot be given. To CREATE an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported.
The Southern Miss Student Government Association is what brought it to the campus. This is truly a campaign for students, by students.
“This campaign focuses mostly on bystander intervention. So finding ways for students, most importantly, who are in those situations where sexual assault may occur, to step in, say something if they see something, and really help to protect those that are around them. At our universities, and especially at Southern Miss, we’re a big family, and a big community. And what we really hope to harp on here at Southern Miss, is encouraging students to just watch out for your friends, watch out for people that, maybe have had a little bit too much to drink when they’re out, or something like that where they could get into a situation where sexual assault may occur. Let’s just go ahead and prevent these things from even having the opportunity to even happen,” from SGA President Jeffrey George.
The school has events planned all throughout the week to raise awareness for the campaign.
You can listen to the full interview with Jeffrey George HERE:
