St. Davids, PA: Eastern University’s Student Development and Advancement Offices have received a $15,300 Governor’s It’s On Us Grant from the state of Pennsylvania for the 2016-2017 school year. This grant is part of a national It’s On Us campaign, launched during the Obama administration to encourage sexual assault awareness, action and prevention on college campuses.
Former President Obama said of the campaign, “It is on all of us to reject the quiet tolerance of sexual assault and to refuse to accept what’s unacceptable”. It’s On Us seeks to educate students about preventative measures and actions they can take in the event of sexual assault. This includes encouraging students not to remain on the sidelines if something has happened to them or if they see harm coming to someone else. Eastern has already begun utilizing this grant by offering a Community Wide Meeting that was held on March 17th. Further use includes Residence Hall campaigns with new safety controls for guests, a social media campaign by the SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) student group, safety information stickers posted on doors throughout campus, rubber wristbands for Eastern students to wear and spread awareness, and “Get Inclusive” online training for sexual assault awareness.
Assistant Dean of Residence & Student Life, Jacqueline Irving, asserts that “The It’s On Us Grant is important to the EU community because the funding helps us continue to expand upon the work we currently do to provide our community with education and resources about sexual assault awareness, prevention, bystander intervention, reporting and safety training. Eastern University should get involved with the It’s On Us campaign because we have a responsibility to use our voices and resources to change the culture to prevent sexual assault.”
Sexual Assault Awareness Week will occur on campus during the week of April 8th-April 12th, during which Eastern will host different awareness events and activities for students. These events include: a Worship Service on Saturday, April 8th at 7 p.m.; a “Safety First Presentation” by EU Director of Safety, Jim Magee at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, April 10th; “Survivor Stories: Turning Pain into Passion” on Monday, April 10th at 10 a.m.; a“Bystander Intervention Display” presented by MAAC and SAVE (Students Against Violence Everywhere) Monday, April 10th- Wednesday, April 13th; “Sexual Assault on College Campuses” hosted by MAAC, SAVE, SAGE & Public Safety on Tuesday, April 11th at 6 p.m.; a “Sexual Assault and Justice Presentation” by Delaware County Assistant DA, Erica Giddiens Parham & Diane Horbe, Director, Protection from Abuse Court on Wednesday, April 12th at 11a.m. in the Eagle Great Room; and “Healthy Relationships Panel Discussion” with Residence Life Staff & Guests on Wednesday, April 12th at 7 p.m.
For more information about the It’s On Us Grant or about Sexual Assault Awareness Week, please contact Jacqueline Irving at jirving@eastern.edu.
Eastern University is a Christian university of the arts and sciences located in the western suburbs of Philadelphia at 1300 Eagle Road in St. Davids, PA. Eastern enrolls approximately 3,500 students in its undergraduate, graduate, professional, urban, Seminary and international programs. Its core values of faith, reason and justice are woven into all of its educational programs. For more information visit www.eastern.edu or contact Denise McMillan, Communications Director, 610-341-4365, dmcmill@eastern.edu.
