It’s On Us, SGA to host Big Blue Pledge for Prevention Week
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 10, 2025) ― The University of Kentucky’s student-run organization It’s On Us, in partnership with the Student Government Association (SGA), will host the Big Blue Pledge for Prevention Week from Feb. 10-14.
“Our goal is to educate the campus about consent, create a safe space for support and provide transparency into the administrative processes that protect UK students,” said Caleb Dotson, co-president of It’s On Us. “As we approach Valentine’s Day, many students are thinking about healthy relationships. This week offers an important opportunity to deepen our community’s commitment to safety and respect. We encourage all students to participate in the events, especially our moderated Q&A with student body president Maddie Duff on Thursday evening.”
The message of It’s On Us is straightforward, yet powerful.
It’s On Us to:
- Build and lead a movement dedicated to ending sexual assault and interpersonal violence through student-centered engagement and awareness.
- Collaborate with the national It’s On Us movement to provide research-based education and resources to the University of Kentucky community.
- Create a safe and inclusive space for dialogue and support for survivors of sexual and relationship violence.
- Train and equip peers in the areas of consent, bystander intervention, healthy relationships, sexual assault prevention, survivor support and online relationship safety, among other relevant topics.
This week of events serves as a crucial reminder of the role each of us plays in creating a culture that does not tolerate acts of violence. With a variety of engaging activities, the week aims to encourage reflection, conversation and action around these critical issues, while offering students the chance to learn more about how they can contribute to a safer campus environment.
Throughout the week, It’s On Us will host events focusing on healthy relationships, sexual violence prevention and how the university is working to safeguard its students.
“We want to approach these hard topics — safety, sexual assault prevention and building healthy relationships — in a way that’s accessible and informative for all students,” said co-president Ella Bean. “With a mix of fun and educational activities, we believe there’s something for everyone to engage with and learn from.”
The week’s events include:
- Monday, Feb. 10: Consent is as Easy as FRIES
- Tuesday, Feb. 11: Survivor Support Self-Care Day
- Wednesday, Feb. 12: Relationship Reality Check
- Thursday, Feb. 13: The Forum: Real Talk, Real Solutions
- Friday, Feb. 14: Love is Respect: A Valentine’s Day Celebration of Healthy Relationships
It's On Us leaders emphasized that by working together, we have the power to shift the conversation, support survivors and take active steps to reduce harm. By standing united, we can make UK a violence-free space where every student feels safe and heard.
While Prevention Week is a great opportunity to kick-start important conversations and bring the campus together, the work doesn’t stop here. It’s On Us and SGA is committed to fostering lasting change and continuing this dialogue year-round.
“It’s On Us is a student organization open to both undergraduate and graduate students. We meet monthly and host various events throughout the year,” said Bean. “We focus on fostering healthy relationships and educating the community on how to prevent sexual violence. SGA also has a new caucus, the Wildcats Safety Alliance Caucus, where students can get involved in establishing and advocating for safety initiatives on campus. Additionally, students can make their voices heard by completing the student safety survey, launching this February, which will allow them to share safety concerns with UK administration.”
For students impacted by sexual assault, UK offers free and confidential survivor support and advocacy through the VIP Center. Visit uky.edu/vipcenter or call 859-257-3574 for assistance. A variety of other resources are available at studentsuccess.uky.edu/get-help.
Students may also report incidents of harassment or sexual assault through the Title IX Coordinator at 859-257-8927 or by visiting oeo.uky.edu.
More about It’s On Us
It’s On Us began as a White House initiative during the Obama administration in 2014, aimed at preventing sexual assault on college campuses. Today, it is the largest nonprofit program in the U.S. dedicated to this cause, with chapters across the country. The UK chapter, founded in the fall of 2023, was born out of the work of students in Christal Badour’s capstone psychology class, who identified a need for a student-led organization on campus. While the VIP Center offers vital support, research shows that peer education plays a crucial role in prevention. Co-Presidents Dotson and Bean, along with their leadership team, are excited to build on this foundation and continue growing the chapter’s impact.
At the University of Kentucky, students are at the center of all that we do. From the moment you become a Wildcat through graduation and beyond, the Office for Student Success is committed to supporting you. Comprised of five areas and 25 units, together, they have one vision — to help students live a life of meaning. Student Success works through an equitable, holistic and inclusive lens to design and deliver unparalleled services and support a diverse community of learners in achieving their wildest ambitions. In the Office for Student Success this is what we do — this is who we are. You can explore resources available to you here. If you have additional questions, you can reach a Student Success team member by calling the helpline 859-218-YouK (9685).