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Although several professional sports organizations are included among the project's more than 22,000 videos, Northwestern's video is one of the first from a collegiate athletic department. The video, which runs about 90 seconds, features four athletes, three coaches, and Athletic Director Jim Phillips telling viewers that despite the struggles and intolerance that teenagers often face, "It Gets Better."

"We are excited to join with the It Gets Better Project to take a stand against bullying," Phillips said in a release announcing the video's debut. "As a University and an Athletic Department, Northwestern takes great pride in celebrating each and every one of the unique individuals at our institution, whether they be students or staff. Bullying of anyone for any reason is not acceptable, and we hope others will use their voices to stand with us."

The project was started last fall in response to suicides by several teenagers who were bullied because of their real or perceived sexual orientation. But Northwestern's video is aimed at a broader audience.

"This message is for every young person out there, and I think it goes far beyond their sexuality," Northwestern Softball Head Coach Kate Drohan told The Daily Northwestern. "It's just a matter of being accepted for who they are and for the unique talents and skills that they bring to the world and to be celebrated as such."

Phillips said it's important that some of the Wildcats top coaches and athletes were willing to be involved.

"They represent the best of the best," he told The Daily Northwestern. "Part of the credibility of it is you want to put some of your coaches and student athletes that are really visible in the public eye as supporters of this."

Basketball player John Shurna was one of the athletes in the video, telling viewers, "No matter who we are, we've all struggled to be accepted by our peers at some point in our lives." He told The Daily Northwestern he was excited to get involved with the video.

"I absolutely wanted to jump on getting behind this message," he said. "It's important that people know bullying is just not acceptable."

The video is available on the Northwestern University athletic department Web site and also on its YouTube channel. The school has also produced 30- and 60-second audio versions that will run as public service announcements on WGM-AM, its official broadcasting outlet.