University of Iowa students: Ending sexual violence is ‘on us’

IOWA CITY - Dozens of students crossing the University of Iowa campus on Tuesday halted their course at an unassuming table to sign a clipboard and make a promise.

By signing a nationally-circulating pledge, each participating UI student vowed to 'recognize that non-consensual sex is sexual assault,” identify possible situations that could lead to assault, intervene in situations where consent has not or cannot be given, and create an environment to support survivors.

'It's on all of us to help stop sexual assault,” UI Student Government President Patrick Bartoski said, referencing the nationwide 'It's On Us” campaign.

UI student groups on Tuesday launched the local version of the national campaign with the pledge signing at the center of campus.

Representatives of UI Student Government, Graduate and Professional Student Government, and the President's Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Assault will continue asking their peers to sign the pledge all week - setting up a table on the walkway behind Burge and Daum residence halls on Wednesday and on the west side of campus - outside the Medical Education Research Facility - on Thursday.

The student leaders also are encouraging organizations, groups, and athletic teams on campus to snap group photos after taking the 'It's On Us” pledge and post the pictures on social media with the hashtags #whyisigned, #ItsOnUs, and #bethesolution.

The 'It's On Us” pledge is being billed as a 'personal commitment to help keep people of all genders safe from sexual assault” and as a promise not to be a bystander to the problem.

In just the first hour Tuesday, Bartoski estimated that more than 100 UI students had signed the pledge.