September 18, 2015 11:12 AM EDT
A s college students settle into a new year at school, Lady Gaga has released a new video sending a powerful message about sexual assault on campus.
“Til It Happens to You,” with lyrics by Diane Warren, was written for the documentary The Hunting Ground , which debuted earlier this year. The new video was directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen ) and shows college students experiencing assault in terrible, but unfortunately all too common, situations: in a dorm room, at a party, in a campus bathroom. “Til it happens to you,” Gaga sings, “you don’t know how it feels.” The video concludes with each survivor getting support from the community and overcoming the stigma of sexual assault.
A portion of proceeds from sales of the song will go to organizations working to combat sexual assault and support survivors.
Photos: See Madonna Over the Years Madonna practices with the freshman cheerleaders at Adams High School in 1972 in Rochester, Mich. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Madonna poses for her senior year book photo at Adams High School in 1976 in Rochester, Mich. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images Madonna is seen in New York City in 1978. Michael McDonnell—Archive Photos/Getty Images Madonna in New York City in 1979. Michael McDonnell—Archive Photos/Getty Images Madonna poses on the set of Desperately Seeking Susan in 1985. Mondadori/Getty Images Madonna in New York, 1984. Michael Putland—Getty Images Madonna performs at the MTV Video Awards in 1984. Richard Corkery—NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images Madonna in concert in 1985. Ron Galella—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna on Saturday Night Live in 1985. NBC/Getty Images Madonna performs in Chicago in 1987. Paul Natkin—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna performs in Kobe, Japan in 1990. Frank Micelotta—Getty Images Madonna is seen in concert in 1990. Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images Madonna performs at Feijenoord Stadium in Rotterdam, Netherlands in 1990. Frans Schellekens—Redferns/Getty Images Madonna performs at the 1990 MTV Video Music Awards at Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, Calif. Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna performs in concert in 1990. Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna during her Blond Ambition World Tour in 1990. Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna as Breathless Mahoney in Dick Tracy , 1990. Buena Vista Madonna performs during her "Girlie Show" in London, England in 1993. Neal Preston—Corbis Madonna in her music video for 'Human Nature' in 1995. Getty Images Madonna performs during a video shoot for her single 'Take A Bow' in 1994. Frank Micelotta—Getty Images Madonna stars as Evita Perón in Evita , 1997. Getty Images Madonna performs during a video shoot for her single 'The Power Of Goodbye' in 1998. Frank Micelotta—Getty Images Madonna poses backstage at the BBC TV studios in 1998. Dave Hogan—Getty Images Madonna performs on MTV in 2003. Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna performs songs from her new album "American Life" at Tower Records in New York City in 2003. Frank Micelotta—Getty Images Madonna performs during her Reinvention Tour in 2004. Kevin Mazur—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna performs in London in 2004. Mike Marsland—WireImage/Getty Images Madonna performs at the Wembley Arena in London, England in 2006. Dave Hogan—Getty Images Madonna performs in Moscow in 2006. Feodor Savintsev—Epsilon/Getty Images Madonna performs at Olympic Stadium during a concert of the 'Sticky and Sweet' world tour in Rome, Italy in 2008. Elisabetta Villa—Getty Images Madonna performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. in 2012. Al Bello—Getty Images Madonna performs during the Bridgestone Super Bowl XLVI Halftime Show at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Ind. in 2012. Cory Schwartz—Getty Images Madonna performs onstage during The 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards at the STAPLES Center on February 8, 2015 in Los Angeles, Calif. Larry Busacca—Getty Images More Must-Reads from TIME Where Trump 2.0 Will Differ From 1.0 How Elon Musk Became a Kingmaker The Power—And Limits—of Peer Support The 100 Must-Read Books of 2024 Column: If Optimism Feels Ridiculous Now, Try Hope The Future of Climate Action Is Trade Policy FX’s Say Nothing Is the Must-Watch Political Thriller of 2024 Merle Bombardieri Is Helping People Make the Baby Decision