UND Today

University of North Dakota’s Official News Source

It’s on us

As official partner school, UND joins national campaign to change culture surrounding campus sexual assault

It's on us
Over the next year, the “It’s On Us” campaign at UND will continue to build infrastructure across the movement to ensure that students feel safe and supported across campuses. Graphic courtesy of Sexual Respect & Violence Prevention.

UND has officially partnered with “It’s On Us,” a national campaign aimed at changing the culture surrounding campus sexual assault. As a proud It’s On Us Campus Innovation Partner School, the University is committed to upholding and implementing the three pillars of the It’s On Us campaign, support for survivors of sexual violence, bystander intervention, and consent education.

Over the next year, It’s On Us will continue to build infrastructure across the movement to ensure that students feel safe and supported across campuses. The campaign will also expand the organization’s work outside of the campus environment and into the national conversation around ending rape culture.

“This opportunity allows UND to structure the violence prevention program around best practices in the field and utilize resources to help move the program to the next level,” said Amber Flynn, Coordinator of Sexual Respect & Violence Prevention. Through the campus innovation program, UND has access to tools which allow them to benchmark their progress and tailor education to the needs of population at the institution.  Interim Student Affairs Vice President Dr. Laurie Betting knows the importance of utilizing best practice resources to educate students and the UND community. “Moving this program to the next level will mean that students have the support they need and ultimately have a richer experience at UND and be better prepared to impact the issue of sexual violence”.

“The tools of this program, aligned with the work being done on the ground-level with programs like Green Dot, education about social norms, and collaborative partnerships on and off-campus, not only provides an opportunity for a well-rounded curriculum, but will aid in preventing violence in our community,” said Flynn.

This week is It’s On Us Week at UND:

Thursday, April 6:

9 a.m.-2 p.m., Understanding Violence and Trauma Teach-in: “What to know and How to help!” Memorial Union River Valley Room.

5-7 p.m., The Hunting Ground screening and panel discussion.

Friday, April 7:

5 p.m., Archives Coffee House – Feminist First Friday

For more information, visit UND.edu/itsonusUND

About It’s On Us:

It’s On Us is a cultural movement aimed at fundamentally shifting the way we think and talk about sexual assault. It’s a rallying cry, inviting everyone to step up and realize that the solution begins with us. Launched in September 2014, It’s On Us works to educate, engage, and empower students and communities across the country to do something, big or small, to end sexual assault. The campaign has three core pillars – consent education, increasing bystander intervention, and creating an environment that supports survivors. Over 380,000 people have taken the It’s On Us pledge online. Students have hosted over 1,700 It’s On Us events on 534 campuses nationwide. Join the movement at ItsOnUs.org.