Solidarity in Breaking the Silence- by Bradley University blogger Ashley

It’s never an easy move to make the decision to share the truth of your assault with a friend or trusted loved one, and it’s even harder to share this truth with “strangers” in your college community. Unless you attend a very small institution, the likelihood of even 15% of the school population recognizing you is slim. Regardless of whether we personally know each other or not, we are now united as a family larger than our parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc. Just because we don’t know each other doesn’t mean we can’t support each other, right?

Unfortunately, there tends to be an overwhelming sense of disbelief when word gets around that someone is “claiming” to have been assaulted. Instead of first worrying about the victim, many people jump to blaming the person— “Oh, well how can we be sure that really happened? You know people lie to get attention.” I understand why so many survivors remain silent.

Even when it seems like so many people are against you, or simply so nonchalant because you’re not their friend or family, there are still many people ready to support you the minute you break your silence. On campus, if the opportunities are not already present, there are other ways to share your experience with others.

•  At this year’s Vagina Monologues, some women walked up and stated that they were a survivor or supported survivors. This sparked conversations after the show that resulted in survivors feeling less alone and others joining the fight to end sexual assault.
• If you’re a writer, writing a poem and sharing it at an open mic night is another platform to share. People learn what paths you’ve walked and view you as an even stronger person for speaking in a room full of (mostly) unfamiliar faces. You also never know who’s in the crowd and really appreciates your strength to speak up when they cannot.
•  Bring a survivor to speak on campus and share your story after their presentation. It’s not super easy to bring speakers to campus, but with the support of other campus organizations, this is one of the best ways to get other survivors on campus to share their experience, as well as reach the larger campus community. Hearing how someone has moved forward in life after their experience can ignite courage in so many others to break the silence.
•  During weeks dedicated to sexual assault prevention and education, consider having a table in a central location on campus. Not only can you educate your fellow colleagues in an informal way, but you can also share your story with those who choose to stop by and listen.

These are just a few ways that survivors can at least feel more comfortable with sharing their experience with the campus community. No one’s expecting you to walk on stage a week later and yell to the world that you are a survivor; healing takes time. You will heal even more and grow stronger the day you share your story. Your story is important and should be heard. You are a survivor.

Can survivors be more vocal about their attacks? What are some ways survivors can safely share their trauma with others as a teaching tale? by Blogger Jade

I think one of the hardest thoughts to grasp concerning an attack is that often times it will happen from someone you know or someone you are in a relationship with.




After an attack sharing your survivor story can seem impossible. It is hard enough to admit to yourself that this happened. The fact is: it did happen and it might seem easier to keep this a secret. What you may not understand is that you can help yourself and others by sharing your story.





When I was attending college we had an event called “Take Back the Night.” It was a weeklong event filled with activities and awareness about rape and violence against women. Survivors could write their stories on shirts anonymously to be hung on close line in the student center. They could also share their story in a panel with other survivors, or speak publicly on a stage at the awareness walk. Not only can sharing their story be healing for the survivor, it can also bring public awareness to this epidemic. Some may feel that they cannot tell their story to the public. Journaling about what happened or telling a trusted friend can be therapeutic as well.





Saying out loud what happened to you can give you strength. You are not a victim to rape you are a survivor.

The Responsibility of Colleges by blogger Katiera Sordjan, UPenn

    Even in 2013, with the constant exposure to the topic, we as a society are still uncomfortable talking about sex. 
    
    When it comes to rape, we are even more at a loss. College is supposed to be the time for students to discover themselves, learn, and prepare for their futures. But if they fall victim to rape, all of that is interrupted.

    Students from schools across the country, such as Amherst and Dartmouth, have come forward with complaints of Title IX violations following incidents of rape and sexual assault on their campuses. This law requires that all students receive equal treatment regardless of sex, and that schools take measures to address and prevent sexual violence on campus. 
    
    Colleges and universities are also mandated under the Clery Act to record and disclose all crimes that happen on campus. Higher education is a business, and like any other, can be impacted by bad publicity. Due to the corporative nature of schools, and the prevalence of rape culture, administrators may face sexual assault victims with a collective shrug. 

    In order to change the rate of assault on campus, universities must take responsibility for both their faculty and their students. Employees and first-year students should be required to complete courses on sexual violence prevention. Schools must also add this education to their alcohol awareness programs, as well as encourage students to report sexual violence. Instead of merely suggesting a victim take time off of school, a student guilty of assault should be expelled immediately. 

    Any university that fails to comply with these measures must face serious legal consequences, regardless of their worth and prestige. With all of the pressures that higher education brings, students should be treated with compassion and get justice. It does not make sense that stealing from the university bookstore can come with more repercussions than violating another student's body.

Resurrecting your soul and you -by blogger Snehal Gajare

Rape is a devastating nightmare that comes with a set of soul piercing arrows in the life of a survivor. These arrows are full of humiliation passing through the mind, soul, body and the existence of the survivor making his/her life miserable. Yes, you read it right. Even men are subjected to rape by women or other men. Today, we are not discussing about rape. Instead, we shall discuss about how survivors of rape can resurrect themselves and others who have witnessed the same trauma.

Speaking about Rape can be a social  good:

All I want to say is that when a  rape survivor steps forward shunning the veil of shame falsely imposed by the society on him/her, this is a mere beginning of a revolution. This revolution is to bring in a positive change in the social arena thereby inspiring others to break their silence and fight for their right of living with dignity. This social whirlpool of aspersions and verbal slamming encircling the survivors can be squashed only when the rape survivors muster all the courage and challenge the social hypocrisy. It is well known that rape survivors often refrain from speaking publically about the sexual assault. It is often seen that most of the perpetrators are serial rapists who keep on repeating the offence over and over again. This is the probable reason as to why the rape survivors must report the sexual assault and save the lives of other innocent people who can be victims.

Come forward. Speak your mind and lead others:

The most heart wrecking incidences are the ones where rapes are reported, followed by criminal trials that often end up releasing the perpetrator for lack of evidence. Here justice is not only denied but buried deep within the courtroom walls. When survivors speak, we are bound by a moral obligation to help her/him in seeking justice. A public outcry can do wonders. As a survivor you can even pen your thoughts, experiences, feelings your resurrection story into a book that can serve as an inspirational story for others who wish to speak but are often caught into the clutches of blame, shame, social pressure.

Today, there are numerous organizations across the globe for helping the rape survivors. Approach them. Sharing your story with other peers can provide them a secured feeling that they are not alone and speaking up is going to help them resurrect themselves.

How can families discuss with their daughters and sons the issue of consent and the reality of sexual assault on campuses? by Benedictine University blogger Karly

One important thing that every family should tell their kids before they leave for college is to stay alert, and be aware of who and what they get involved with. Some families are broken, and without a mother or a father it can be hard raising kids. But no matter what kind of family a child grows up in, a subject as serious as sexual assault and being aware of it should be discussed. The issue of consent is sometimes hard to explain but if families are open and if they build strong relationships with one another, these touchy subjects will be easy to talk about.





The reality of sexual assault on campuses is a scary thing but if students don’t hide what they see or have had done to them; it will be easier to prevent it happening again to anyone else. Guardians of students going into college need to educate their sons and daughters on real life situations that may happen to them. These unfortunate assaults can happen to anyone; even if you are being safe there is always a risk of something happening. But knowing how to prevent it or how to be alert of situations are things that families should discuss just incase a sexual assault situation does occur. Families share your love with your kids and make sure they are ready for these kinds of situations.