‘It’s on Cougs’ sex assault prevention launches Thursday

talk-to-us-logoPULLMAN, Wash. – Washington State University students on Thursday will join Pac-12 conference schools and all universities in Washington to raise awareness about sexual violence on campus.

“It’s On Cougs” is the Associated Students of WSU adaptation of President Obama’s “It’s On Us” sexual assault prevention campaign that launched earlier this month. The day of action – which WSU leaders spearheaded at the annual Pac-12 summit earlier this year – will kick off a year of activities aimed at decreasing sexual assault.

“The goal and purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about how sexual violence is something all of our students should be concerned with,” said ASWSU Vice President Lakecia Farmer.

John Fraire, WSU vice president for student affairs, said WSU students are national leaders in addressing sexual assault on campuses.

“The activities here have attracted the attention of the White House and other institutions throughout the country,” he said. “We can be proud of the proactive approach our students are taking to tackle this critical issue.”

At WSU, day of action activities will include tables on the mall outside the Compton Union Building to solicit pledges, photograph students for a social media awareness campaign, and register students for a student-led dialogue about sexual assault prevention.

That event, “Talk to Us,” will be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 15, in the CUB junior ballroom on the Pullman campus. It will feature workshops, resources and facilitated dialogue on a wide range of topics including reporting sexual assault, what constitutes consent and gender norms.

“We are hoping that we find a group of students who wish to be more involved in creating a week of programming in the spring leading up to April, which is National Sexual Awareness Month,” Farmer said. “The goal of the spring conference is to involve a much larger number of students on campus. We hope to inspire students to take a stand and fight for those who may not be able to fight for themselves.”

More information about the day of action and the “Talk to Us” event is available at http://www.aswsu.wsu.edu; click on It’s On Cougs on the left.

 

Contacts:
Lakecia Farmer, ASWSU vice president, 509-335-9677, aswsu.vicepresident@wsu.edu
Kathy Barnard, WSU University Communications, 509-335-8055, kbarnard@wsu.edu