October’s It’s on US Fall Week a success

The UNMC Title IX Office and EMPOWER held events the week of Oct. 17-21 to mark It’s on US Week. It’s on US Week was a week of action to raise awareness of, and to prevent, sexual assault.

The “It’s on US” website lists the following tips on what you can do to be part of the solution:

• Talk to your friends honestly and openly about sexual assault.
• Don’t just be a bystander — if you see something, intervene in any way you can.
• Trust your gut. If something looks like it might be a bad situation, it probably is.
• Be direct. Ask someone who looks like they may need help if they’re ok.
• Get someone to help you if you see something — enlist a friend, RA, bartender, or host to help step in.
• Keep an eye on someone who has had too much to drink.
• If you see someone who is too intoxicated to consent, enlist their friends to help them leave safely.
• Recognize the potential danger of someone who talks about planning to target another person at a party.
• Be aware if someone is deliberately trying to intoxicate, isolate, or corner someone else.
• Get in the way by creating a distraction, drawing attention to the situation, or separating them.
• Understand that if someone does not or cannot consent to sex, it’s rape.
• Never blame the victim.

Be part of the solution and take the Pledge at itsonus.org.