Syracuse University, through it'sIt's On Us Campaign, made quite a pep rally for Vice President Biden's visit Thursday, engaging the large student and staff audience with music and multimedia messages like PSAs.
Less than a month after deciding not to run for President, he’s calling people out on stopping campus sexual violence. Without having to run a campaign, Joe Biden has time for one of his most passionate causes.
“You’re an upperclassman,” Biden said. “You’re at a fraternity party. A lovely young freshman girl gets drunk. And you see your roommate, your fraternity brother, walking her upstairs. Have the gumption to step in! Expose him! Have the nerve!"
He repeatedly urged men to get involved. Biden himself has quiet a history with the issue, penning the Violence against Women act 25 years ago.
“This is one area where we have not made nearly enough progress,” Biden said. “Sexual violence on college campuses makes no distinction based on geography, the size of the campus, the academic standing of the campus. No campus across America is less than 13%, and some are as high as 30%.”
Some of the people at the forefront of preventing violence at SU reminded the campus community of resources and rights, especially after the statewide Enough is Enough program. Student Samantha Skaller introduced Biden but also had a more important story to tell.
"It took me nearly four months after my assault to be able to say the word ‘rape’ out loud,” Skaller said. “And it took me over one year to be able to say ‘It’s not my fault’ out loud. The weekend before classes started my sophomore year of college I was raped. But I am not alone.”
Victims’ stories, along with a pledge to end campus sexual violence, are all part of the It’s On Us campaign, which now includes over 300 college campuses.
The It’s On US pledge and other resources are available atitsonus.org and the SU campus site counselingcenter.syr.edu.