Wilkes University has been awarded a $30,000 “It’s On Us” grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This is the third time Wilkes has received the award, which will be used to raise awareness about sexual and intimate-partner violence.
An initiative of Governor Tom Wolf, “It’s On Us PA” is a statewide campaign that invites everyone to play a role in ending sexual assault.
The grant will be used to establish and continue programs that educate and train students, faculty and staff on identifying, responding to and reporting sexual violence. It will also support a month-long awareness campaign in April which coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Planned activities include the continuation of the University’s Red Flag Campaign, a bystander intervention strategy to address and prevent sexual assault, dating violence and stalking on college campuses. The campaign encourages friends and other campus community members to say something when they see warning signs, or red flags, of intimate partner violence.
“Creating a safe, welcoming environment for all of our students is our highest priority,” said Wilkes interim President Paul S. Adams. “We want to thank Gov. Tom Wolf, Sen. John Yudichak and Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski for their continued support of Wilkes students, especially when it comes to combating sexual assault.”
“Governor Wolf’s ‘It’s on Us’ initiative has helped colleges like Wilkes University implement programs aimed at preventing sexual assaults from occurring on campus, as well as raise awareness on how to report assaults if they occur,” said Sen. John Yudichak (I-Luzerne/Carbon). “The funding received today will help Wilkes University with their efforts to ensure that students have every resource available to make them feel safer on campus.”
The efforts will be organized by Wilkes Title IX coordinator, Samantha Hart, in partnership with the newly formed, “It’s On Us” student organization.
“We are honored to be a grant recipient, which will allow us to continue to provide the best education and response to sexual violence,” Hart said. “Our month-long awareness campaign will continue important conversations about how we can create a culture of respect on our campus and in the community.”
