This February, the It’s On Us organization recognized Shippensburg University among the top sixteen schools nationwide that registered the highest number of campus activities related to sexual violence prevention. The recognition highlights the Pride & Gender Equality (PAGE) Center, and It’s On Us, Ship chapter for their year-round prevention programming, pledge drives and efforts to provide resources to the campus community.
“It’s On Us, Ship students are integral to planning and facilitating PAGE Center events that address sexual harm, intimate partner violence and stalking on our campus,” Miller Hoffman, the director of the PAGE Center, noted. Student organizers launched the chapter’s first pledge drive in October 2024. Since then, they’ve partnered with various community organizations and campus stakeholders to expand outreach. The PAGE Center regularly holds events, games, and prevention activities that receive a strong student turnout, and continues to collaborate across the university on awareness efforts.
The 2025 student leadership includes Allison Campion, Cynthia Dodd, Denise Rodriguez, Emmett O’Bell, Grayson Houser, Hykes Byers, Karmen Alicea, Tymere Harris and alumnus Seth Kauffman, who also served as a leader before graduating this winter.
Student leaders shared how their work for It’s On Us has been a gratifying experience. “Being a part of Shippensburg’s chapter has genuinely been transformative,” Alicea shared. They described how joining the PAGE Center and It’s On Us helped her find a calling, and she’s now pursuing a major in social work, with the goal of preventing sexual assault and supporting survivors. Similar to Alicea, Byers is a graduate student in social work who shared how, though they’re used to and comfortable discussing heavy topics, that “being able to engage with issues on campus with others has been a great new experience.”
Emmett O’Bell, a PAGE Center peer educator, current student organizer and co-leader of Its On Us alongside Grayson Houser, said the chapter’s activities have inspired change action across campus. Activities and initiatives include tabling with campus partners, monthly student-run prevention workshops and a “Friends Don’t Let Friends” social media campaign. “We wouldn’t have been able to make the national list without the effort of every single team member of the PAGE Center,” O’Bell said.
Winter graduate Seth Kaufman was honored to hear that Ship’s It’s On Us program was featured in the top 16 recognition. “I’ve never been so dedicated to something as I have with the starting of the It’s On Us chapter, and to see where it is now and know that among the dozens of chapters, that Ship is being recognized, fills me with great joy and pride.”
Ship’s student organizers shared that they plan to expand prevention workshops, increase bystander intervention training and deepen collaborations with academic programs to sustain impact.
For my information on events, resources or how to get involved, visit here: https://www.ship.edu/life/community/page/Safe-Zone/ending-sexual-misconduct/
Also, be sure to contact the PAGE Center with any questions at page@ship.edu.
