Skip to main content
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
Sections
  • All News
  • Arts & Culture
  • Business & Economy
  • Campus & Community
  • Health & Society
  • Media, Law & Policy
  • STEM
  • Veterans
  • University Statements
  • Syracuse University Impact
  • |
  • The Peel
  • Athletics
  • Home
  • About
  • Faculty Experts
  • For The Media
  • ’Cuse Conversations Podcast
  • Topics
    • Alumni
    • Events
    • Faculty
    • Students
    • All Topics
  • Contact
  • Submit
Campus & Community

Greek Leaders Take Stand Against Sexual Assault

Thursday, November 12, 2015, By News Staff
Share

“Even if you’re initiating a conversation, just one, then that’s one more conversation than was happening earlier,” says Tristan Ruzic, president of the Syracuse University Panhellenic Council. “If you can just prevent one more person from becoming a statistic, you’ve done your job.”

A stamp at a local bar

An entrance stamp at a local bar

Ruzic is spearheading a campuswide Greek Life initiative to raise awareness about sexual assault prevention. She has organized a union between the various Greek councils at the University to tackle the all-too-prevalent issue of sexual assault on college campuses, and she emphasizes that while Greek life is only one part of the larger issue, it is still their responsibility to take action in doing all they can to prevent sexual assault from occurring.

Expanding upon this idea, Ruzic also reached out to other schools across the country, seeking to create solidarity among the Greek community on a national scale. To date, Ruzic has the support of Greek leaders at George Washington University, Indiana University, Texas Christian University, Cornell University, the University of Pennsylvania and Oklahoma State University.

“Our goal is to facilitate a dialogue,” explains Ruzic. “We want to share useful information, tips and strategies. What worked for us? What didn’t? Where have other campuses achieved successes, and how can we build upon that success here on our campus?”

After all, this is no easy task. Ruzic fully acknowledges the vastness of the problem she is addressing, and realizes that sticking only to traditional methods of communication may not deliver the results she hopes for. So, together with the University’s Greek councils, Ruzic has been exploring alternative methods of getting the message out.

“We (Greeks on campus) have so much programming, sometimes the importance of one thing gets lost,” she says. “We need to raise awareness without people having to change their regular, daily schedules.”

Now, all along Greek row, fraternities and sororities are displaying massive “Yes Means Yes” banners on the sides of their houses. When students go to popular college bars, their entrance stamps read “Be Sure” and “Consent is Sexy.” Members of the Greek community have flooded their social media accounts with the official “Yes Means Yes” banner, and existing campus organizations dedicated to preventing sexual assault have joined the Panhellenic Council’s initiative.

In response to Ruzic’s work, Caroline Heres of the Girl Code Movement says, “I think it’s great! I think that the Yes Means Yes legislation is fantastic, and that it really does create a more positive outlook on the issue. We’ve worked with the Panhellenic Council before; we had a walk last semester that was sponsored by them, and I want to work with them more in the future.”

The Girl Code Movement was founded by Syracuse University students to address the problem of sexual assault on campus, and in the few short years since its creation, it has already received national news coverage for its efforts.

“My main objectives for the Girl Code Movement are to really begin and carry out a conversation regarding student-to-student sexual violence on campus,” says Heres. “I believe that talking about this in a student-to-student environment will create a better foundation for working to end it on campus.”

Moving forward, Ruzic has plans for several big events on campus. This Friday, Nov. 13, at 3 p.m., members of the Greek councils at the University will be meeting in the Quad for a demonstration to raise awareness of the issue. Additionally, Ruzic and the Panhellenic Council have set the goal of bringing at least one speaker to campus per semester.

“I think it’s time we put our resources and ideas together,” states Ruzic. “This is a nationwide epidemic, and it’s on us to be a part of the solution.”

 

This story is by Austin Galovski, a work-study student in the Office of News Services.

  • Author

News Staff

  • Recent
  • WiSE Hosts the 2025 Norma Slepecky Memorial Lecture and Undergraduate Research Prize Award Ceremony
    Friday, June 13, 2025, By News Staff
  • Inaugural Meredith Professor Faculty Fellows Announced
    Friday, June 13, 2025, By Wendy S. Loughlin
  • Lab THRIVE: Advancing Student Mental Health and Resilience
    Thursday, June 12, 2025, By News Staff
  • 7 New Representatives Added to the Board of Trustees
    Wednesday, June 11, 2025, By News Staff
  • Whitman Honors Outstanding Alumni and Friends at 2025 Awards and Appreciation Event
    Tuesday, June 10, 2025, By News Staff

More In Campus & Community

Inaugural Meredith Professor Faculty Fellows Announced

Three professors have been named Meredith Professor Faculty Fellows. Part of the Laura J. and L. Douglas Meredith Professorship Program, the Faculty Fellows program was launched this year. Fellows will work in partnership with the Center for Teaching and Learning…

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Orange! Faculty and Staff at the Syracuse WorkForce Run (Gallery)

The Syracuse WorkForce Run was held at Onondaga Lake Parkway Tuesday, bringing together workers from across Central New York for a night of food, fun, fitness and friendly competition among area employers. This year’s event, which raised funds for Ronald…

Oren Lyons Jr., Roy Simmons Jr. Honored With Alfie Jacques Ambassador Award

Oren Lyons Jr. ’58, H’93 and Roy Simmons Jr. ’59, H’14 formed a lifelong friendship that stems from their days starring for the Syracuse University men’s lacrosse team from 1955-58. Recently, Lyons and Simmons were honored with the Alfie Jacques…

McDonald Assumes New Role as Associate Vice President for Research

Katherine McDonald, professor of public health and senior associate dean for research and administration in the David B. Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, will join Syracuse University’s Office of Research in a new role as associate vice president…

7 New Representatives Added to the Board of Trustees

Chancellor Kent Syverud has appointed Dean Mark Lodato of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications as academic dean representative to the Board of Trustees. In addition, Andrea Rose Persin, assistant dean of budget, finance and administration in the College…

Subscribe to SU Today

If you need help with your subscription, contact sunews@syr.edu.

Connect With Us

  • X
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
Social Media Directory

For the Media

Find an Expert Follow @SyracuseUNews
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Youtube
  • LinkedIn
  • @SyracuseU
  • @SyracuseUNews
  • Social Media Directory
  • Accessibility
  • Privacy
  • Campus Status
  • Syracuse.edu
© 2025 Syracuse University News. All Rights Reserved.