In conjunction with the White House’s “It’s On Us” campaign, geared toward ending sexual assault on college campuses, NC State released a PSA video Thursday addressing sexual assault that features a variety of students, faculty and staff from across campus.

Carson Shepherd, student government director of University Affairs, a junior in political science and the driving force behind the creation of the video, said she thought it would be beneficial for NC State to have a personalized version of the national PSA released by the White House. 

“You can watch it and say ‘Oh that’s my roommate, my professor, the chancellor, or athletes on campus,’” Shepherd said. 

Student Health Services, the Counseling Center, the Women’s Center, the GLBT Center, Multicultural Student Affairs as well as NC State’s students, faculty and staff all appear in the PSA as advocates of sexual assault prevention. 

The variety of people in the video reinforce the idea that sexual assault is not a singular issue, and everyone on a college campus plays a vital role in helping to prevent and spread awareness about sexual assault.

Professors, athletes, members of the administrative staff, Greek life, student media and student government are all featured in the video.  

C. Ellen Washington, assistant director for leadership and scholar in residence at NC State’s Women’s Center, said the video’s value is the broad spectrum of people who participated.

 “That lets me know that it’s across campus and not just in certain pockets on campus,” Washington said.

One in five women is sexually assaulted during her college years, and only 13 percent of rape survivors report their assault, according to White House statistics. 

“I believe that knowledge and power is the key to ending sexual assault,” Shepherd said. “A lot of people don’t realize, even making jokes about sexual assault is out of line. That’s a culture shift that needs to happen on campus, and educating people ends the ignorance around it.”

The “It’s On Us” campaign aims to change the discussions and attitudes that surround sexual assault, emphasizing the importance that other people, not just the victim, have in preventing it from happening.

Another facet of the campaign is inclusivity, which aims to raise awareness about the many different people who can be affected by sexual assault.

“There are other threats besides men, other victims besides women, and resources for people no matter who they are in terms of their identity who may be dealing with these problems,” said Renee Wells, director of NC State’s GLBT Center. “We are committed to supporting everyone through that process here at State.”

Wells said one of the things the university should always consider and emphasize is inclusivity. 

“So much of the focus around issues, whether its prevention, response, or support, is focused on women as victims and men as the perpetrators,” Wells said. “But it’s also important to be aware that men can be victims, women can be perpetrators, and that issues of sexual assault can occur in same sex relationships as well.”

By watching the video and taking part in the campaign, members of NC State’s campus are expected to take an active role in preventing sexual assault, Shepherd said. 

“If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor,” Shepherd said in the PSA. 

While the video is one step the university has taken to help change the discussion surrounding sexual assault, the fight against sexual assault on college campuses does not stop here, Wells said. 

“One thing we have to be cognizant about is to make sure that we have many efforts and many initiatives around awareness, prevention, and education,” Wells said. “The PSA is one piece of what we’re doing at NC State. It’s an important step in the journey that is ongoing.”

In the event that a student is sexually assaulted, there are a variety of resources available to them, and there are several programs on campus designed to prevent sexual assault.

The Relationship and Sexual Violence Phone Line is a hotline for students, faculty and staff facing gender-based issues, such as sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. 

The Women’s Center and Counseling Center also have staff members and programs in place to assist victims of sexual assault and offer victims’ individual needs. 

The Office for Institutional Equity and Diversity also has a Title IX committee designed to prevent and address sexual discrimination within the university system. Title IX is a civil rights law prohibiting discrimination in education programs and activities receiving federal funds. 

“I think it’s good that it’s getting a big push,” said Zack Lentz, a graduate student in biological engineering. “I don’t think there’s any one clear solution to ending sexual assault, but it’s definitely a step in the right direction. Every little bit helps.”