“1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime and 1 out of every 33 American men has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in his lifetime,” according to rccmcs.org. Sexual violence is a major issue on most college campuses. The NACAC (National Association for College Administration Counseling) released information stating, “Stanford University, Washington and Lee University, the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Point Park University had been added to the list of colleges under investigation of cases of sexual violence.” The Minnesota State University Student Association (MSUSA), Winona State University chapter is campaigning to end the issue. The MSUSA committee for WSU is made up of five students that deal with legislative issues. This semester’s issue is the Sexual Violence Campaign, titled It’s a People Issue. Their intention is to bring awareness to the situation of sexual violence on campus.
Beginning February 15th the It’s a People Issue campaign on Sexual violence will begin on the WSU campus. The committee has created a four-phase plan that will promote their campaign during this semester with event tables, discussion speakers, gatherings, giveaways and contests. During phase one, temporary tattoos are going to be passed out around campus to introduce the campaign and spread the awareness. Students will be encouraged to, “post on social media using #itsAPeopleIssue to win prizes and share the issue with friends, family, and other social media users,” explained the MSUSA president for WSU, Aly Hagglund. The first phase also involves event tables and the first discussion speaker that will be open to all students to continue raising awareness on the issue of sexual violence. Phase two of the campaign begins in March with another discussion series, which will also be open to all students to attend. This phase will include inviting Minnesota State Representative, Erin Murphy, to the WSU campus to speak regarding this topic. This will be an amazing opportunity to attend and to welcome a MN State representative. The event is intended to keep spreading awareness in the Winona community as well as reaching out to others throughout the state. Phase three involves PACTivist training, which is offered here on campus. The program is open to all students and provides training on dealing with acts of gender-based violence. Along with promoting PACTivist training, the committee will be handing out teal ribbons, which is the color representing Sexual Violence awareness.
The fourth and final phase will be held in April promoting the campus event, Take Back the Night, hosted by Winona State University, in partnership with FORGE, the Women’s and Gender Studies student club, and the Women’s Resource Center of Winona. This event aims to raise awareness about the issue of sexual violence, which all students are highly encouraged to attend. The final phase will also involve the last of the Discussion serious to wrap up the campaigning. With each phase, the committee is hoping to spread awareness and get others involved in stopping this issue from happening on college campuses. Keep yourself educated on the topic and what to do if in a situation of sexual violence. Thank you to the MSUSA members representing Winona State University and creating this campaign that will contribute to stop sexual violence from occurring on campuses!
**Make sure you “Like” MSUSA: Winona State University on Facebook.
**For more information on the MSUSA organization visit their official website here.