Members of Chico State's Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) are following the lead of Chico State's Safe Place and the NCAA's national SAAC by pledging to help prevent sexual assault and support survivors while encouraging their peers to do the same throughout April, which is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The "It's On Us" video the student-athletes produced is a promise to help create a safe environment for all Wildcats by pledging to: "…be a part of the solution, not a part of the problem. To look out for each and not look the other way. To realize there's a role to play in stopping sexual assault. To hold our friends accountable. To tell our friends when they're doing something wrong. To intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given. To create an environment where sexual assault is unacceptable and where survivors are supported— an environment where everyone can feel safe. To stand up, to step in, and to take responsibility."
The National SAAC Days of Action are April 17–18. With the help of national organizations and Chico State's
Safe Place—which advocates for victims and survivors of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and stalking through crisis intervention, prevention education, resources, and referrals—Chico State's student-athletes created a social media campaign designed to increase awareness about sexual assault, as well as produced the video.
"We made this video to make a public pledge to do everything we can to make a positive difference when it comes to sexual assault," said Kelley Sullivan, a student-athlete on the men's golf team. "We take the issue seriously and we hope this video helps our fellow Wildcats to take it seriously as well."
TAKE THE PLEDGE.
Chico State's student-athletes will also take part in the Clothesline Project organized by Safe Place, a national campaign providing visual representation of messages about intimate partner violence. Today, members campus community created T-shirts designed and decorated by survivors of violence, or created in honor of someone who has experienced violence. The shirts will hang above Glenn Lawn on campus April 22–25.
SAAC will also join Safe Place and the campus community by wearing denim on April 24, a protest against the idea that certain clothing or types of dress "invite" sexual assault. An estimated six million people throughout the world participate in Denim Day to support survivors, and educate themselves and others about all forms of sexual violence.
"We are grateful for the amazing people and organizations at Chico State dedicated to bringing awareness to this issue and supporting survivors," said volleyball student-athlete Kim Wright. "We appreciate the opportunity to take part in the powerful events they organize on campus."
