Every two minutes, someone in America is sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN).
This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it’s a month that hits home for me and many others out there. I’m a survivor – one of the people you pass on your way to class every day, the people you sit next to in class or at lunch and the people you work with. In fact, RAINN reports that one in six women and one in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. College-aged women are four times more likely to be assaulted. That should hit home for all of us here.
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Every two minutes, someone in America is sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN).
This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and it’s a month that hits home for me and many others out there. I’m a survivor – one of the people you pass on your way to class every day, the people you sit next to in class or at lunch and the people you work with. In fact, RAINN reports that one in six women and one in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime. College-aged women are four times more likely to be assaulted. That should hit home for all of us here.
This is our campus, and it’s time we speak out and start breaking the silence. So many survivors are silenced by what has happened to them for fear of being blamed due to the myths that surround rape, such as she was dressed a certain way or was asking for it. Many times, drugs and alcohol are involved, making it even harder for men and women to speak up and get the help they deserve. It’s even harder when they know the person. According to RAINN, in about two-thirds of rapes, the victim knows the assailant. It’s not often just a stranger popping out of the bushes or a dark alley at night.
Until we start to educate ourselves, accept that it does happen and start to speak out, nothing will ever change. Sexual assault is one of the most under-reported crimes in America, but it doesn’t have to be that way. We can help start the change now. You can visit RAINN (http://www.rainn.org/) for more information and to learn how you can help. Together we can make a difference.
My word to survivors is to remember that you are not alone. We are in this together and it does get better, I promise. It may not seem like it, but don’t give up. Reach out and get the help you deserve. RAINN offers a free, confidential, 24-hour hotline which you can call if you need someone to talk to: 1-800-656-HOPE. There are many resources on campus as well, such as the counseling center.
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