USC's "It’s On Us" campaign commenced its Week of Action on Monday evening with a kickball tournament outside Strom Thurmond Fitness Center.
With four more events scheduled through Friday, "It’s On Us" officials aim to enhance the campaign’s presence at USC while raising awareness of campus sexual assault.
Co-director Mary-Copeland Cain says that the intent of Monday’s event was to bring students of different academic pursuits and organizations together in a social setting. As the events become more serious in tone, Cain hopes that connection will assist in stimulating conversation among the student body.
“We want this event to just be [about] awareness and to be fun and to make it a lot less awkward,” Cain said. “This is just an easy first event to ease into the more serious stuff.”
On the playing field, the student athletes squad took first place in the four-team first round. Following the victory, team member and men’s tennis player Thomas Mayronne praised Student Government’s work with USC "It’s On Us."
“Sexual assault is something we need to take very serious,” Mayronne said. “M.C. [Cain] and Michael Parks are doing a great job, and we’re just happy to help out.”
Cain’s fellow co-director Lindsay Bratun, a third-year public relations student, is hopeful that this week’s events can encourage more campus organizations to work and schedule visits with campaign officials. Currently, "It’s On Us" remains an initiative on the Student Government Cabinet. With the help of increased student exposure through campaign-organized events, Bratun’s goal is to promote "It’s On Us" to a full campus organization.
“It’s been a lot of personal commitments, but we’re hoping to make things happen on a larger scale after the Week of Action,” Bratun said.
Bratun estimated that 120 students attended Monday’s tournament.
Student Body President Michael Parks opened the tournament’s first of two rounds shortly before the sun began to set behind Greek Village. When asked about the long-term goals of "It’s On Us," Parks said that the campaign’s activism is key in helping USC students to discuss the factors surrounding campus sexual assault. However, he added, the students themselves must take those lessons and put them into practice.
“It’s really only through action-oriented change that we can begin to put an end to sexual assault on our campus,” Parks said.
The Week of Action continues Tuesday evening with a movie screening and panel discussion hosted by Individuals Respecting Identities & Sexualities. The event begins at 8 p.m. in the Russell House Theater.