Vice President Joe Biden broke the silence on sexual assault Thursday afternoon with three major themes that emerged in his speech at Syracuse University.

Biden offered a range of ways in which SU students can approach rape culture on campus, but the points will only prove useful if students embrace these values in their day-to-day lives.

It’s on us to end sexual assault by committing to social activism

When it comes to sexual assault, legal action is important for righting wrongs. However, many fail to acknowledge that veritable change comes in the form of social action. By holding events centered around deconstructing rape culture, universities can work toward preventing campus crimes from ever happening.

As noted by Biden in his speech, the goal of reducing sexual assault on college campuses through discussion is a central component of the It’s On Us campaign, one of the first large-scale projects geared toward young people.

A highlight of Biden’s speech was calling on students to be more than just bystanders in instances of sexual violence. By urging students to actively take part in preventative efforts, the vice president promoted a society in which the long-term solution of ending sexual assault once and for all is foreseeable.

Yet, in order to get there, students need to at least have open conversations about rape and rape culture with their peers.

Bringing one of SU’s most famous alumni to speak at the It’s On Us event was an effective move in sparking a dialogue. The community’s response to the cause was immense: Goldstein Auditorium was bursting at the seams with students, faculty and staff. Beyond the event, the frequency of It’s On Us T-shirts and the wealth of #ItsOnUsSU tweets are testaments to campus’ current commitment to sexual assault activism.

It’s on us to end sexual assault in creating a safe atmosphere for survivors

Apart from being physically damaging, rape is psychologically traumatizing. As Biden said in his speech, it takes an enormous amount of courage to speak up about your assault. The judgments that your peers make, along with the emotionally triggering nature of rape, make coming forward difficult.

Therefore, it is important for institutions and individuals alike to create an atmosphere — whether in a courtroom or in a classroom — that does not blame victims for their rape. Rather, environments in which assault is discussed should be respectful. These spaces should also reward survivors for being willing to share their experiences to heal themselves and help others.

Students witnessed a great example of this at Thursday’s event and should take note in order to make survivors on campus feel comfortable. Samantha Skaller, an SU student and member of the national It’s On Us Student Advisory Committee, spoke up about her rape and how it spurred her to activism. Biden took a moment to acknowledge Skaller for being brave enough to share her experience, setting an example for the student body in how to respond positively.

It’s on us to use power and privilege to speak up about sexual assault

The vice president used his social standing and political power to talk about domestic violence, a topic most powerful men avoid. Intentional or not, Biden’s activism concerning sexual assault draws attention because he uses his male privilege to make what is typically construed as a women’s issue into an everyone’s issue.

Having Biden as a speaker for Thursday’s event shows men on campus that the issue of sexual assault requires their voice as well. Male students can also bring about effective cultural change by being more conscious of sexual assault, an issue that primarily affects women on a social level.

However, it is important to note that men can be victims of sexual assault as well.

It’s on us

SU’s participation in the It’s On Us campaign serves as a stepping stone in bringing together the university community to finally talk about sexual assault. But with the intent of making SU’s campus safer, students, faculty and staff should hold onto the ideologies behind the campaign after the national week of action is over.

Caroline Colvin is a sophomore magazine journalism major. Her column appears weekly. She can be reached at ccolvin@syr.edu and followed on Twitter at @fkacaro.

Published on November 12, 2015 at 11:15 pm