The Missouri Students Association hosted their event titled “Take a Stand,” the most recent installment to their “[Enough is Enough](http://msa.missouri.edu/enoughisenough/)” campaign in the MU Student Center on Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Participants put their hand in purple paint, then pressed it onto a banner to symbolize that their hands won’t be used to commit sexual assault, an act inspired by the national campaign “These Hands And Words Are Not For Hurting.”
They were also encouraged to write a message on a whiteboard about sexual violence prevention.
Several MU departments and organizations also tabled the event, and displayed some of their resources.
These tables included MU Police Department, the Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention Center, the MU Counseling Center, the MU Student Health Center, MSA and STRIPES. Tables had pamphlets, business cards and other forms of information to give to students who came to each table.
MSA Vice President Matt McKeown, RSVP Center Coordinator Danica Wolf and Chancellor R. Bowen Loftin spoke about how it is the student body’s job to actively prevent sexual assault.
They also spoke about resources provided here on campus.
Loftin said MU is ahead of many other universities in the steps it is taking against sexual violence. The “Enough is Enough” video produced by MSA was a sign that students are stepping up against this issue, he said.
Administrators and staff also participated in adding a handprint, including Loftin, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Cathy Scroggs, Athletic Director Mike Alden and several other staff members.
McKeown said he hopes this event will raise awareness of sexual violence prevention by having students directly participate in the campaign.
“It takes every single one of us to work towards making that change,” McKeown said. “Something needs to be done. It’s not a quick change, but knowing that there is student engagement is really encouraging that the student body is behind this campaign.”
Director of Student Services Zack Folk said he hopes that this campaign helps to unite the student body against this issue.
“In student government, we work to benefit the students and this is something that needs to be done for the students,” Folk said. “We’re trying to unite the student body in having a single voice.”
RSVP Center graduate assistant Tim Maness agreed and said Loftin’s speech emboldened the idea that preventing sexual assault is everyone’s responsibility.
“We’re all here together, we’re all in it together, and we need to band together to solve this problem,” Maness said. “No one has to do everything, but everyone has to do something.”
MSA Secretary of Auxiliaries Sandy Patel said she hopes students are more aware of this issue on campus and their participation signifies their stance.
“People are acknowledging that statistically, one in five women will be sexually assaulted, but that is a statistic that should be zero in five,” Patel said. “This event reminds us that no one deserves to be sexually assaulted, and we are trying to promote a culture change.”
