By Kimberly Wethal
News Editor
Whitewater Student Government President Allison Hetz sees campus sexual assault as more than just a women’s issue.
Rather, she looks at it as more of an “everyone issue.”
“There are a lot of people here who have been affected by sexual assault,” Hetz said. “It’s not just women who get assaulted, it’s not just men who get assaulted. It’s not even just one group over another.”
It’s why she, along with University Health Counseling Services (UHCS) and other WSG members, have been planning UW-Whitewater’s second It’s On Us campaign on Sept. 17.
It will be a day-long campaign as students and faculty raise awareness by wearing T-shirts sold by WSG and UHCS.
The “It’s On Us” campaign was started by the White House last September to shed light on sexual assaults occurring on college campuses across the country.
UHCS started the campaign event held on campus last year. A video full of statistics and information on how to receive help after an assault was released in February of this year.
Wellness Coordinator at UHCS Whitney Henley said the video was made in order to bring awareness to students about what they can do to stop sexual assault.
T-shirts with the “It’s On Us” logo were sold last week by WSG for the event, and UHCS will be selling T-shirts as well from 8 to 10 a.m. Sept. 15, 10 to 4 p.m. Sept. 16 and 10 to noon Sept. 17 in the University Center.
Profits made off of the shirts are being donated to the two campus sexual assault advocacies, the Association for the Prevention of Family Violence and People Against Domestic and Sexual Abuse. The donations will help students on campus, along with families in Walworth and Jefferson counties.