Alpha Sigma Tau (AST) held its third annual #MeToo event to raise awareness to sexual harassment on Nov. 3.

AST is holding its third annual #MeToo event to raise awareness and provide resources for sexual harassment, assault victims and talk about warning signs.

AST brought in guest speakers deeply involved in the MeToo movement to speak for the audience.

The MeToo movement was founded in 2006 with the goal of bringing attention to unreported sexual violence and to “interrupt it wherever it happens,” according to metoomvmt.org.

There were guest speakers from the Domestic Violence Services of Perry & Cumberland County (DVSCP), as well as the SU Women’s Center. Guest speakers included: Arielle Catron, director of the Women’s Center at Shippensburg University; Emily Ott of the DVSCP; Courtney Fenice of the YWCA; as well as various members of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority. 

The event had a live audience and projected guest speakers that could not be there in person onto a screen via Zoom. AST members sat on stage and spoke to the audience, asking questions and engaging with them.

The event was mostly populated with Greek Life students. It was designed to raise awareness for sexual and domestic violence within the context of the MeToo movement.

Catron spoke first on stage, starting the event by talking about the Women’s Center at Shippensburg University, located in Horton Hall on campus. Catron wanted the audience to know that the Women’s Center is for everyone.

“We are not just here for women, we are here for people of any gender identity, race, creed, background,” Catron said.

After speaking about the Women’s Center, her focus shifted. Catron spoke about the prevalence of sexual assault on SU’s campus and what we should do in the face of it.

“It is our responsibility to step in and say something when we see something,” Catron said. Emily Ott also spoke on the matter of sexual violence on campus. “This does happen, even in small towns like Shippensburg,” Ott said. 

Following Ott’s discussion, members of Alpha Sigma Tau played a TED Talk for the audience. The TED Talk was by Tarana Burke, the founder of the MeToo movement. The TED Talk described what the MeToo movement was in greater detail and what the movement can become.

“This is a movement about the far-reaching power of empathy,” Burke said. 

After the TED Talk, the audience was invited to engage in a few activities. These included talking about proper boundaries in a relationship, as well as addressing “relationship red flags” to watch out for. 

At the end of the presentation, local confidential resources were presented to students in order to show them how to get in contact with someone if they are ever a victim of sexual violence. 

For more information regarding the MeToo movement, the Women’s Center located on the first floor of Horton Hall has resources to support students. The Women’s Center hosts sexual assault survivor support group meetings on Thursdays. 

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