UWDP Joins "It's On Us": A Campaign To Stop Sexual Assault in the U.S.

One in 16 females in the United States will fall victim to a sexual assault some time in their life.

Consider that for just a moment.  No matter if you are a college student, a recent grad, a fan with a young family or an old Dawg with grown kids, the odds are that you have more than 16 females in your life that matter to you very much.  The stats tell us that one or more of them are going to suffer one of the most heinous attacks that one can imagine at some point in their lives.

The fact of the matter is that many sexual assaults are perpetrated by people who fall in a subset of the same demographic that we here at the UW Dawg Pound, as well as other sports fan sites, serve.  As such, I'm proud that SB Nation has decided to partner with Generation Progress (an arm of AmericanProgress.org) to support the "It's On Us" campaign.  "It's On Us" exists to shed light on the often covered-up crime of sexual assault through education and mutual commitment to expose this blight for what it is.  "It's On Us" is a year-long national campaign that will be supported by SB Nation through a series of videos, clips and social media efforts that will sometimes be featured right here on 'Pound.  In fact, you may have noticed the logo change on the top of our page today.

Check out these short videos, featuring former UW Tight End Joel McHale, to get a better sense of what the "It's On Us" campaign is all about.

I don't consider myself the activist type.  I'm sometimes cynical and am often suspicious of made-for-tv types of political movements that feature celebrities who may or may not be personally invested.  However, I am also the father of two daughters, the husband to an incredible wife and the son / grandson to a couple of amazing women.  I've also witnessed the destruction that sexual assaults can lay on a life and on a family.  If I can leverage this site and this forum to make one small contribution in the fight to protect my loved ones - and yours, too - from sexual assault, it is not effort wasted.

I know that you all come here for sports banter, a little debate and a chance to escape from your day for a bit.  I also know that if you have gotten 400 words into this brief piece, that you likely have women in your life that you care deeply about.  If so, please consider joining me in making the commitment to preventing sexual assault.  All I ask is that you comment in the thread below with two words:  "I'm in".

If you'd like to learn more, click here and head over to ItsOnUs.org.

I expect that some of you may be displeased with this article.  What you choose to do outside of your sports hobby is personal and that is as it should be.  I don't mean to intrude and I promise that this will be the one and only article fully committed to this topic.  It is not our intent to overwhelm you with political debate or online activism.  It is our intent, however, to make you aware of what we are doing and to give everybody the chance to make their own choice to opt in.  Thank you for allowing me your attention.

--Chris

I'm IN