Walla Walla University has joined other universities like University of Iowa and James Madison University, by taking the It’s On Us pledge to empower everyone to do their part in ending sexual assault and violence.

David Richardson, vice president of Student Life and Mission, is leading our campus in this movement. “This It’s On Us campaign holds similar values to our university policy of Title IX. It unites our university policy with the national movement. By joining this movement, WWU hopes to continue protecting our faculty, staff, students, and our community by building awareness and inspiring action.”

This pledge is a national commitment to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault. It is a promise not to be a bystander to the problem, but to be a part of the solution. The pledge contains four essential ideas:
• 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.

As a united student body, WWU has joined this movement by pledging to raise awareness of sexual assault and violence. University policy already supports the ideals in the It’s On Us pledge, and this public commitment further empowers each individual to do what they are able in combating the social problem of sexual assault and violence.

“I want to see the students empowered to respond to a situation involving sexual assault or violence and have the knowledge of how to handle it safely,” says Emily Muthersbaugh, student life coordinator.

It’s On Us programming and events will launch winter quarter 2015, with awareness events, training camps, and response training. These events will prepare campus faculty, staff, and students with effective ways to combat sexual assault and violence.

ASWWU released the Wolves Do Something video as part of the WWU pledge. Learn more about the WWU sexual misconduct policy.

Posted November 4, 2014