Moravian University recently received $40,000 from the national non-profit It’sOnUs PA to educate students, faculty, and staff on how to prevent sexual assault among college students.
It’sOnUs focuses on raising awareness of sexual assault prevention on college campuses. The nonprofit was formed in Sept. 2014 as a part of the Obama-Biden administrative acts to prevent sexual assault. Two years after the group’s founding, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration invested over $1.6 million into its grant program.
The grant, which colleges and universities across the state of PA can apply for, brings much needed attention to the issue of sexual assault, both in general and on college campuses.
Dean for Compliance Leah Naso, Director of Operations & Outreach Rosemarie Williams, and Equal Opportunity & Title IX Coordinator Becki Achey, co-wrote the grant application in the fall of 2024.
Moravian will distribute the grant funds to multiple departments and organizations at the university. The Gender Equity Club (GEC), Equal Opportunities/Title IX, Peers and Wellness (PAW), and Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS) departments will all receive a share of the grant to expand their efforts.
Moravian’s Gender Equity Club plans to use the additional funding to host numerous public events in support of sexual assault prevention throughout this semester and the fall of 2025.
One of those events, Take Back The Night, is both an organization and an event. Its purpose is to raise awareness and stop domestic, sexual, and interpersonal violence. The date of the first ever TBTN event is unclear. There are reports of a TBTN event that happened in 1877 in London. However, according to the Take Back The Night website, the women at the University of Southern Florida in 1972 were the first. It’s likely that 1877 was the first of its kind, and the 1972 event was the first time the U.S. held a rally.
The actual date aside, women all over the world have been taking back the night. What the event looks like today can vary. Groups can march and chant, share poetry or words of wisdom; others hold candlelight vigils to remember those they have lost to sexual violence.
The concept isn’t foreign to Moravian. In fact, in 2010, Moravian held its first-ever TBTN event. The march was organized by the Moravian chapter of the American Association for University Women, which was one of the first affinity clubs on campus, established in 2009. Moravian’s AAUW chapter served its community for 15 years before disbanding. However, a group of student activists came together in 2023 to form what is now known as the Gender Equity Club. On April 22, Moravian will be hosting a Take Back the Night march starting at 4:30 p.m. at the HILL on South Campus. Immediately following the march will be a Walk a Mile in Her Shoes rally in Johnston Hall.
Another initiative undertaken with funding, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes (WAMIHS), is an immersive way for men to gain a minute understanding of what it is like to live as a woman. This event is a chance for men to show their support for women, transgender individuals, and gender non-conforming people. WAMIHS will take place immediately after the TBTN march. High heels will be supplied to participants.
The Clothesline Project raises awareness for violence prevention. This is a visual display of how sexual assault impacts people. Abusers don’t think about the aftermath. They don’t think about how their actions will affect their victim for the rest of their life. The Clothesline Project’s mission is to share the stories of survivors in a way that people can’t ignore. Survivors and other people who have been affected by this kind of violence get the opportunity to share as much or as little of the experience as they choose. People decorate shirts and hang them on clotheslines to showcase. Some write details about the assault, others are pleading for change or justice on behalf of loved ones who have died due to violent acts. They offer 11 different colored shirts that represent different kinds of abuse.
Yellow shirts are for survivors of physical assault or domestic violence. Red, pink, and orange shirts represent survivors of rape or childhood sexual abuse. Blue or green shirts speak to survivors of incest or childhood sexual abuse. Purple shirts are for those who have been attacked because of their sexual orientation. Brown or gray shirts are for survivors of emotional, spiritual, or verbal abuse. Black shirts represent victims who have been disabled as the result of an attack or someone who has been assaulted because of an existing disability. The last colored shirt is not decorated by the survivor themself, as white shirts are a representation of someone who died because of sexual violence. Later this semester, Moravian will be hosting its own exhibit, so keep an eye out for more details!
Another event that will be funded by the grant is Denim Day. It was created as the result of a sexual assault case from 1992. In Italy, an 18-year-old girl was raped by her 45-year-old driving instructor. She came forward immediately and the man was convicted of rape and sentenced to 34 months in jail.
However, the man appealed his sentence by using what Italians now call the “Jeans Alibi.” The rapist stated that during the encounter, the victim was wearing tight jeans. The plea he made to the Italian Supreme Court was that since her jeans were so tight, he needed her to help him take her pants off. Therefore, she was consenting to have sex with him. This resulted in the Italian Supreme Court overturning his conviction and releasing the rapist back into society. Women all over the world were outraged, which started the phenomenon that is Denim Day. This is an act of support for sexual assault survivors and a protest against sexual violence. There will be an official event for Denim Day, where students can access resources and support from both campus and community outlets. The event will be held in the PPHAC atrium from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. on April 10.
The GEC are elated to have received this grant. Vice President of the club, Mayzi Jo Edelheiser ‘25, said that receiving this grant has led to a leap in the club’s development — they feel like they are finally able to actualize their ideas.
How Else Will The Funds Be Spent?
In addition to these events, some of the funds will be distributed to CAPS, so that all of the full-time therapists can go through the Advanced Trauma Treatment Certification program. The intensive program prepares clinicians with the necessary skills and tools to properly address trauma and treat students who have experienced sexual violence, harassment, or stalking. After the training, the therapists will all be Certified Clinical Trauma Treatment Professionals Level II (CCTP-II).
The Equal Opportunities/Title IX office plans to work with Marketing and the Athletics departments to make an It’sOnUs sexual violence prevention video using male athletes. The video would feature male athletes at Moravian, highlighting their leadership positions in the community. These athletes will emphasize the importance of standing against sexual violence and promoting bystander intervention. The video will also educate students on recognizing harmful behaviors, understanding consent, and supporting survivors, encouraging viewers to take an active role in preventing violence.
Additionally, Equal Opportunities/Title IX is aware of the gaps in reporting and increased perpetration among Greek life communities. While no formal action has been taken, there is notable consideration to implement a similar initiative within that student population.
The long-term goals for campus safety and sexual assault prevention include continuing advanced Title IX training for Moravian’s civil rights investigators and Title IX Coordinators. Title IX Coordinators will also attend the annual Association of Title IX Administrators three-day conference and obtain additional certifications. The civil rights investigators will focus their training on learning advanced interview techniques, how to better utilize technology in their investigations, and improve their statement analysis and report writing.
The grant only lasts one year, so Moravian will have to apply for a continuation grant. The application will be submitted in Oct. and a decision will be made in Jan. for the 2025-2026 school year.
If you want to become involved with the Gender Equity Club, just reach out to them by emailing, [email protected].
