Hamilton and fellow member schools of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) are planning a series of events this week to support the national It’s On Us campaign to combat sexual assault.
NESCAC and its Student Advisory Committee on Athletics (SAAC) released a video Nov. 29 that features 25 student-athletes from all 11 member institutions. Lillie Simourian '17 and Stephanie Dipietro '18 represented Hamilton in the video.
"We recognize that it's on us to trust our instincts and intervene in suspicious situations to protect our classmates, regardless of gender,” Simourian, chair of the conference’s student committee, said in a NESCAC press release. “We take ownership of our roles as leaders in our communities, where safety and support are top priorities.”
Everyone signing the It’s On Us pledge is urged to show their support by using the #getscrolled and #itsonus hashtags on social media.
Students, staff and faculty at NESCAC member institutions will be focused on educating their campus communities about the It's On Us effort, pledging to help keep women and men safe from sexual assault on campus.
"To coincide with the release of our It's On Us video, each institution's SAAC has found creative ways to spread the word and turn this initiative into a conference-wide campaign,” Simourian, who plays squash and lacrosse at Hamilton, said in the release.
At Hamilton, the College’s SAAC sponsored a workshop called How to Support a Friend on Nov. 30 in Kennedy Auditorium. It also is hosting events at the swimming/diving and squash matches on Saturday, Dec. 3. There will be T-shirts, wristbands and food from 2 to 4 at the squash courts and from 3:30 to 5 p.m. at the pool.