Grand Valley State University prides itself on providing an exceptionally safe and friendly campus for its students. This year, sexual misconduct is an issue that GVSU is hard at work combatting.

“It’s On Us” is a nationwide program that focuses on addressing this subject. The program is reaching out at GVSU, spreading the word to the 8,000 students that saw the video during halftime at last Thursday’s home football game. Students received 1,000 free tee shirts with the “It’s On Us” logo, which helps spread the word to students who may not have been in attendance.

“The goal is to reach a lot of people with a positive message and get a conversation started,” said Ashley Schulte, GVSU’s victim advocate. “It’s on us to speak up. It’s on us to tell students how to raise awareness. There are lots of things it’s on us to do.”

President Barack Obama founded “It’s On Us” last year, and the program was brought to GVSU this summer. The hope of the “It’s On Us” campaign at GVSU is that it will launch students to want to do more about sexual misconduct on campus. The program is intended to be largely student-focused.

“I want to light the fire for students to want to do more,” Schulte said. “They have the power to interrupt dangerous situations and get engaged…We want students to take a proactive view on a tough subject.”

Schulte added that she is inspired by students taking the campaign into their own hands and wanting to make a positive change on campus.

“It’s not just on administration to keep campus safe,” she said. “It’s on us as Lakers. We all have a good level of responsibility. If you see something, say something. It’s on us to look out for each other.”

The message of “It’s On Us” will go on throughout the year at campus sporting events.

“Sexual misconduct is too prevalent,” Schulte said. “I want our statistics to be better than the average. I want our numbers to go down.”

The “It’s On Us” pledge is for GVSU students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members, and represents being a positive force of change against oppression, sexism and violence.

“Our society hasn’t given this issue enough attention,” Schulte said. “This is a positive way to address sexual violence.”

GVSU is not the only school becoming a part of the campaign. More than 250 universities have gotten involved since the White House launched the program last September.

“This is a big issue that needs to be addressed,” said Keri Becker, GVSU associate athletic director. “It’s time to talk about it.”

“It’s On Us” aims to provide students with tools to always be active bystanders. The program describes an active bystander as someone who has the courage to intervene when they see a potentially dangerous situation.

“We want to shift the message to be solution-based, not problem-based,” Becker said.

A number of events with similar goals to “It’s On Us” will take place throughout the year, including Rock Against Rape, Eyes Wide Open and Dating and Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

To report an incident, contact Title IX Coordinator Theresa Rowland at [email protected], or call (616) 331-9530.