Wilkes University gets $30,000 It’s On Us state grant

WILKES-BARRE — Wilkes University is lone school in Luzerne County to get an It’s On Us grant from the state this year. The $30,000 will be used to raise awareness about sexual and intimate-partner violence.

“Creating a safe, welcoming environment for all of our students is our highest priority,” said Wilkes interim President Paul S. Adams in a news release. “We want to thank Gov. Tom Wolf, Sen. John Yudichak and Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski for their continued support of Wilkes students, especially when it comes to combating sexual assault.”

State wide, grants totaling nearly $1 million were given to 36 colleges and universities. The It’s On Us grant program was launched by Wolf in 2016 and has now awarded nearly $4 million dollars through 113 grants. The goal is to get all people involved in fighting sexual assault and stop being silent bystanders.

According to the state website, schools have been using the money for things like campus-wide training for students faculty and staff and campaigns to raise awareness of the reporting process and of resources available to victims of sexual violence.

In its release, Wilkes said this is the third time in a row it got an “It’s On Us” grant, and that the money will “be used to establish and continue programs that educate and train students, faculty and staff on identifying, responding to and reporting sexual violence. It will also support a month-long awareness campaign in April which coincides with Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Planned activities include the continuation of the University’s Red Flag Campaign, a bystander intervention strategy to address and prevent sexual assault, dating violence and stalking on college campuses.”