SGA, Dean of Students to host Red Flag campaign, launch "It’s On Us" sexual violence initiative at UAH

UAH alumna Dr. Stephanie Gilmore

The University of Alabama in Huntsville's (UAH) Dean of Students Office and the Student Government Association (SGA) will sponsor a series of activities aimed at preventing sexual violence Tuesday, Oct. 21 through Oct. 23. These events include the annual Red Flag Campaign, hosted now for the third year. In addition, UAH alumna Stephanie Gilmore ('94 BA Philosophy), an award-winning educator, and nationally recognized writer, and sexual violence activist will offer a keynote address. Lastly, Student Government Association will host its campus wide launch of the "It's On Us" campaign.

The Red Flag campaign is a national initiative designed to address dating violence and promote the prevention of dating violence on college campuses. Special events are planned each day for the Red Flag campaign from 10 a.m., to noon in the Charger Union Lobby. On Oct, 21, at 6 p.m., Gilmore will give a talk on Sexual Assault Prevention on College Campuses. The event is free and open to the public.

"Educating the university community on the importance of by-stander intervention as it relates to sexual violence prevention is one of the themes of this year's campaign. The idea that we each have a responsibility to keep the community safe is critical," said Dr. Regina Hyatt, UAH Dean of Students.

After Gilmore's talk, SGA will kick-off their campus-wide "Its On Us" campaign. On Sept. 19, The White House formally launched the "Its On Us" campaign. The initiative seeks to engage college students and all members of campus communities in preventing sexual assault. The campaign is being launched in partnership with the Center of American Progress' Generation Progress, along with student body leadership from nearly 200 colleges and universities across the country. "Its On Us" aims to fundamentally shift the way we think about sexual assault, by inspiring everyone to see it as their responsibility to do something, big or small, to prevent it.

Dr. Stephanie Gilmore speaks openly and frankly about the realities of sexual violence on college campuses as well as how students are mobilizing forces to undo a culture of sexual violence. After listening to Gilmore's presentations, students walk away with new knowledge and insights as well as a sense of empowerment that comes from community building.

She is editor at Oral History Review. In the academic world, she has won awards for her scholarship, teaching, and contributions to the community. She is the editor of Feminist Coalitions: Historical Perspectives on Second-Wave Feminism in the United States (2008) and the author of Groundswell: Grassroots Feminist Activism in Postwar America (2013) as well as the author of numerous articles and chapters on activism.

In fall 2013, Gilmore launched her new research and analysis in the form of an interactive, multimedia presentation and Q&A session entitled "Un-Learning Rape Culture on College Campuses: Your 21st-Century Activism" at several colleges and universities, including Northwestern University and University of Arkansas. This year, she will speak at Allegheny College, Western Kentucky University, and Purdue University, among many others.

Gilmore is a former university professor at Dickinson College. She earned a Ph.D., in Comparative Women's History from Ohio State University.