Plaidvocates Raise Awareness Through It’s on Us! Campaign
(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) – On Wednesday, April 11, the Plaidvocates hosted a BBQ in the center of Carnegie Mellon University’s campus to help raise awareness of sexual assault and relationship violence. The event was timed in conjunction with Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence Prevention Week.
The Plaidvocates host various events and workshops throughout the year for student-athletes to educate and raise awareness of sexual assault issues. This year, the Plaidvocates partnered with Student Government and the Office of Title XI in order to implement the Its On Us! campaign on campus. The It's On Us! campaign is a nationwide NCAA sponsored event that promotes preventing sexual assault and relationship violence.
In order to bring awareness to the campaign, the Plaidvocates hosted a barbecue where they offered students free cook out food. At the event, a donations table was set up so that students passing through could donate money to Pittsburgh Action Against Rape (PAAR), a local Pittsburgh non-profit organization that aims to help victims of sexual assault in the Pittsburgh area.
“I'm really proud of the barbecue and how it was perceived,” said sophomore women’s basketball athlete and Plaidvocate Cameron Pitts. “A lot of students showed up and decided to donate to PAAR, which is a really great cause. The It's On Us! campaign is an incredible platform that the NCAA uses to allow student-athletes to become leaders of the movement to end sexual assault, and I'm really glad that the Plaidvocates were able to spread its message to the general student body at Carnegie Mellon.”
In the fall, the Athletics Department hosts two workshops, Sexual Assault and Dating Violence and Step Up!, led by the Plaidvocates for the student-athlete population. Earlier this week, the Plaidvocates hosted One Love’s Escalation Workshop for members of CMU Greek Life. The It’s on Us! Campaign helps continue the message throughout the year.
Plaidvocates is a peer health and wellness advocacy program for student-athletes that supports the well-being of CMU’s varsity athletics community. This peer-to-peer volunteer organization is comprised of student-athletes that lead by adopting health-promoting behaviors, provide year-round support and mentorship, and empower their peers to engage in responsible and informed decision making.