"It's On Us" Week and Diversity Lecture Series to Begin
09/09/2016
As part of the initiative to stop sexual assault the Jacksonville State University Student Government Association will join the nationwide campaign “It’s On Us” with a week of activities beginning September 12.
The aim of “It’s On Us” is to have everyone recognize that non-consensual sex is sexual assault, identify situations in which sexual assault may occur, intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given and create an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable and survivors are supported. To participate in the campaign, college students are encouraged to visit www.itsonus.org to take a pledge to do their part to end sexual assault.
On Monday, Sept. 12 there will be a “Mystery Event” on the Theron Montgomery Building (TMB) front steps from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. On Tuesday, Sept. 13 will be the Twitter Rally. The rally will be an all day event. To take part of the event, search #IOUJSU to see the tweets. On Wednesday, Sept. 14 SGA members will ride around campus on a golf cart, hand out information about the “It’s On Us” campaign at JSU and encourage students to take the pledge. Thursday, Sept. 15 will be the “It’s On Us Rally” on the TMB lawn from 4 - 6 p.m. At the rally, 10 booths will be set up to hand out information about different services and tools students can access in relation to sexual assault. The keynote speaker will be JSU’s Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator Jai Ingraham at 5:30 p.m. He is a member two JSU committees, Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Title IX Committee. The rally will feature free pizza and music. The rally will conclude with a march to show JSU’s passion and support at 6 p.m. Participants are encouraged to bring supplies such as journals, pens/pencils, travel sized toiletry items, all sizes of any form of comfortable clothing and bath towels for a 2nd Chance, Inc. Supply Drive. 2nd Chance Inc. is a Calhoun County-based non-profit organization that assists victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
Also during “It’s On Us Week,” Sept. 12-15 there will be a table set up in the TMB food court daily from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. for students to take the “It’s On Us” Pledge.
Apart from speaking at the “It’s On Us Rally,” Jai Ingraham will start the Diversity Lecture Series on Sept. 20. The lecture series will be a once monthly gathering at 6 p.m. in the Houston Cole Library on the 11th floor. The event is open to members of the public as well as JSU faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the Jacksonville community. The first lecture will be on the topic of faith.
As well as the Diversity Lecture Series, Ingraham will also introduce the 1st Annual Faith Based Fellowship on Sept. 22 at the Alumni House at 5:30 p.m. The event is open to members of the public as well as JSU faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the Jacksonville community. Different secular and religious student groups at JSU have been invited to attend as well as clerics from various local churches. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information about the “It’s On Us” campaign, contact SGA Director of Publicity Casey Payne at 256-782-8435 or SGA Chief Justice Amy Sims at 256-782-5495. For more information regarding the Diversity Lecture Series or the 1st Annual Faith Based Fellowship, contact JSU’s Chief Diversity Officer and Title IX Coordinator Jai Ingraham at 256-782-8565.