NC State is participating in national “It’s On Us” week of action this week with the goal of speaking openly about sexual assault in order to make students more aware of how it impacts NC State’s campus.

“The week of action is like a really charged week and they want all of the schools within the nation to come together and focus on the issue. It’s important to us to support the week of action and highlight the ‘It’s On Us’ campaign because it’s something that really aligns with our mission,” said Sara Forcella, rape prevention education coordinator for the Women’s Center.

President Barack Obama started the “It’s On Us” campaign last year to raise awareness and prevent sexual violence on college campuses. Student Government, the Women’s Center, University Police and the Counseling Center all held events throughout the week. 

The Women’s Center held two interactive workshops this week. On Tuesday, it showed “Escalation,” a movie about Yeardley Love—a student and lacrosse player at University of Virginia who was murdered by her boyfriend. Another workshop is being held tonight at 6 p.m. The event tonight, Sexual Violence 101, will discuss what constitutes sexual assault as well as the resources available on campus and how survivors might react after being sexually assaulted.  Forcella explained that these workshops are meant to address sexual assault in a more interactive way. 

“I hope that [this week] will make people more conscious of sexual assault on our campus and that there are students that have undergone it and it is important to us as a university to provide these resources that these victims need,” said Student Body Vice President Nate Bridgers. 

Both Forcella and Bridgers highlighted the fact that it is a hard topic to talk about, but more and more students need to get involved and speak about sexual violence. This is one reason why they take part in and encourage the “It’s On Us” movement. 

“Within the last five or six years, I’ve seen it catch wind and take off. People are talking about it more,” Forcella said.  “There has been a shift in our culture and a lot of survivors have recently come out and these students have been highlighting the issues that do happen on college campuses,” Forcella said.

Bridgers explained that the conversations about sexual assault have grown since he first came to NC State. 

“When I came in as a first-year, sexual assault wasn’t something that was talked about,” Bridgers said. “Everyone knew it was wrong and no one wanted it to happen, but it was one of those situations that people kind of avoid because it made them uncomfortable.”

Bridgers believes “It’s Un Us” is more than just a slogan; it is a national movement that aims to make college campuses safer environments. 

“It’s a cultural movement that aims to fundamentally shift the way students think and talk about sexual assault, and there is really no voice that is more powerful than the student voice,” Bridgers said.

Forcella agreed that the momentum lies with the students. 

“The cool thing is that it is not from professors and administration as much, it’s coming from students that are invested, who want to end campus sexual violence and be supportive of survivors,” Forcella said.  

Even if action is small, words spread. Student Government held a pledge drive Tuesday in Talley Student Union. By taking the pledge, students committed to help raise awareness for sexual assault. 

Bridgers said promoting awareness should be continued in order to make NC State’s campus a safer environment.

“I think that if we keep on pushing this and get students talking about it, it can really help move the environment into a sexual-assault-free environment that we would like to see here on campus,” Bridgers said.