Diverse Sources - Wes & Kristen

Shelley Keller,  31, Advertising, Senior

1. How would you define sexual assault?
1. "When someone takes advantage of you in a way that is nonconsensual, and there has not been a discussion or a flat yes or a fortified agreement that what they are wanting is about to transpire."
2. Have you previously experienced or witnessed sexual assault? If so, explain?
1. "I was actually in a long-term relationship where this person was emotionally and physically abusive, and there were times where he had too much to drink and he would force himself on me to do things that I did not feel like I wanted to, but I guess he assumed since we were in a relationship that it was ok and it was always agreed upon."
3. How did It make you feel when it happened?
1. "It made me feel very sad, very vulnerable, and taken advantage of. As though part of me felt like I hadn't stuck up for myself enough, but I think given my specific situation since the other problems of emotional and physical abuse had gone on. It was like I had been so beaten down, I didn't know how to really not make it happen."
4. After the assault occurred did you tell anyone?
1. "No, I actually didn't tell anyone for quite some time. Even though people did know I was in a abusive relationship, It was kind of like I was sticking around. So I was doing myself self-harm and where could you really go from that, like you're doing it to yourself. I agree, but I disagree with things like that because sometimes people need help with getting the courage to leave that kind of situation. Just really having a support system and the strength to internally realize things like that is never ok."
5. What do you, personally, do to prevent sexual assault?
1. "Well after that I was very much more selective in the types of people that I dated. Now I'm married to the nicest person in the world. Where if I say no were not having pizza tonight, were not having pizza tonight. He's very respectful, and I think It's important finding someone that understands your boundaries. Everyone has boundaries whether it be physical boundaries or you have your internal boundaries of what you find acceptable."  
6. What should Texas State University do to discourage/condemn sexual assault, and how can they better help the victim(s) on campus?
1. "As far as discouragement, I think that it kind of falls on our justice system. The people that have been in trouble for sexual assault they need to suffer the consequences. Ultimately, they made the bed so they need to lay in it, and they made their choices so there is a cause and effect to every choice. Our society and justice system needs to make it more known that if you violate someone that it is never acceptable. I don't think people talk about it openly enough. I think a lot of people are ashamed and it's like you're damaged, but those people should know they're not. There is nobody putting you at fault. Everybody is fighting a different battle so nobody can judge you and point the blame without being in your shoes."
7. What advice, if any, could you give to those who have experienced assault?
1. "For those that have experienced assault, talk to somebody. There is no shame in telling to your friends, know you shouldn't feel scared or as if somebody is going to check you. Because if they do they're not people that matter, they're not your real friends. Otherwise if you're too concerned to tell the people that are close to you, I strongly suggest finding a therapist. I am a huge advocate for therapy and I feel like that it is a extremely safe place because it's confidential, and someone who is trained, educated in helping you work through your experiences. And as far as people how could potentially experience assault, I strongly advise making it very clear that you said no because if they do it anyways you know you specifically said no, and if they overpower you and it transpires you know you did what you could, and you made it very clear that you didn't want that."

Paige Cole, 23, Business Marketing, Senior

1. How would you define sexual assault?
1. "I would define sexual assault by pressuring somebody with sexual actions that they don't want to do. Like they felt like it was pressed upon them or they feel uncomfortable, and you're pressing it on them anyways."
2. Have you previously experienced or witnessed sexual assault? If so, explain?
1. "I haven't experienced nor witnessed, but I know somebody has been through it and it's traumatizing for her and it's something that she can't get back. It's kind of devastating."
3. How did It make you feel when it happened?
1. "I felt kind of helpless because I didn't know what to do, and I didn't know. The only person I knew to contact was police but she didn't want to go to the police for some odd reason, and I just felt angry and I just felt defenseless like I couldn't do anything to prevent it from not happening cause I wasn't there."
4. After the assault occurred did you tell anyone?
1. "Yeah, she told me and some more of our friends, but because he was a athlete she was like no don't worry about it, it's fine. But it still wasn't ok with us, but we felt like if we didn't experience it what can we really say about it. Unless we could bring some awareness, but it wasn't us in the situation so where can that really lead to if we really didn't go through it ourselves."
5. What do you, personally, do to prevent sexual assault?
1. "I mean I don't put myself in those circumstances. I just feel like if I feel like I'm going to be uncomfortable around a guy or like a uncomfortable situation then I won't be there, and I know sometimes it just happens randomly. Like you can be under the influence or whatever, but I'll make sure I have friends with me that care about me that'll watch over me. Therefore, if I do come under the influence I'll still have support. Therefore I won't make a dumb mistake and put myself in that situation."
6. What should Texas State University do to discourage/condemn sexual assault, and how can they better help the victim(s) on campus?
1. "I honestly feel that Texas State should have classes for this, even with orientation for freshman. You need to be aware of these things that could happen on campus and you need to know the signals and signs of when sexual harassment can occur, and we shouldn't feel like we can't talk to anybody about it. We should have a hotline within Texas State or something because it's a lot of people that could get sexually harassed and you never know. They could commit suicide because they feel like they have nobody to talk to or they feel like they're defenseless, and I feel like the sexual harassment we should take this under serious matters. The people who are sexually harassed, don't matter if you're an athlete or you're a honor student or whatever you are. Then you need to go either to jail or even the detention center, but they need to have some type of punishment or be suspended because they can't just walk around campus. If they did it the first time and got away with it, they're going to do again and what is Texas State doing to prevent that? Nothing. So they need to get more resources on stuff like that. It'll be good to let freshman know that within orientation, and have little slideshows in classes about stuff like that because these freshman come in here unaware. They see guys; oh my god he's so cute, nice, and older than me; but what do you think these older men really want with little kids."
7. What advice, if any, could you give to those who have experienced assault?
1. "You do have somebody to talk to. I mean Texas State necessarily might not have a hotline, but there are hotlines for sexual assault within just the internet itself. I feel like it's good to tell some authority. Don't be afraid to tell authority, don't be afraid that you will ruin his life because who cares. Cause he kind of ruined yours, and It's good to make sure you have friends that can back you up and be your support system and also help you not put yourself through those situations. It's good to gain some knowledge about sexual harassment so that even though you never been through it it's good to still learn about it because you can help somebody that has been through it."

Shynique Thorn, 29, Business Management, Graduate

1. How would you define sexual assault?
1. "I would define sexual assault as any sexual act that somebody might find uncomfortable. Forcing or encouraging them to do anything sexual that they don't want to do. Any physical sexual act that is unwanted or any verbal act that is also unwanted."
2. Have you previously experienced or witnessed sexual assault? If so, explain?
1. "No, I have never experienced or witnessed sexual assault."
3. How did It make you feel when it happened?
1. "I'm pretty sure those who have feel violated, hurt, scared and probably confused."
4. After the assault occurred did you tell anyone?
1. "I think some people tell, but I think a lot of them don't."
5. What do you, personally, do to prevent sexual assault?
1. "Personally I carry myself a certain way. I don't dress in a way I feel or others may feel is provocative. I don't engage with anyone in anyway that I don't want them to reciprocate that same behavior to me." 
6. What should Texas State University do to discourage/condemn sexual assault, and how can they better help the victim(s) on campus?
1. "All the victims that may attend the school, they might encourage them to speak out about it. They might encourage the students to travel in groups. Never go anywhere alone. If you feel that something bad or something suspicious might be going on, speak out about it. Ask the victim is there anything they could do to help. Can I call somebody for you, Kind of just ask questions for any suspicious activity going on."
7. What advice, if any, could you give to those who have experienced assault?
1. "The most important advice is to speak out about it. Because there might be somebody else whose going through the same thing that is afraid to speak out about it. By speaking out about it, they might encourage other people. If enough people talk about it then other people will feel a certain type of way about actually committing the act. So I think everybody should talk about it as much as possible. It'll make themselves feel better and it'll make other people feel better as well."

Vanessa Myers, 23, Nursing, Junior 

1. How would you define sexual assault?
1. "Really, I feel like it comes in different forms. If you touch someone that don't want to be touched without their consent that is sexual assault to me. Because you don't know what people consider appropriate, and if you're harassing them and obviously they don't want it."
2. Have you previously experienced or witnessed sexual assault? If so, explain?
1. "I have and it was a friend of mine, but I actually didn't witness it. It was discussed afterwards and basically one of her close family members took it upon themselves to do some things to her. Obviously without her consent because she was young, and she really hasn't been the same since. It just basically shows you that you can't really trust anybody because anybody is capable of doing it." 
3. How did It make you feel when it happened?
1. "It took me back a little bit because you wouldn't think [of that]. If you know this person you wouldn't think it would ever happen to her and it did. It was one of those, oh my gosh this is actually really a thing, [moments]. So it just hurt me that she was hurting."
4. After the assault occurred did you tell anyone?
1. No, she, to this day, really hasn't told anybody in her family. She told me because obviously we were really close, and she feels comfortable enough to tell me. So yeah to this day she hasn't told any family members, not her mom or nobody because like I said it's a very close family member so she doesn't want to cause any issues within the household."
5. What do you, personally, do to prevent sexual assault?
1. "To be honest, I don't do anything to prevent it, but I have my taser and I have mace. So if anybody would think they are the one to try it, they will get tasered and maced until I feel comfortable enough to go away. If I'm feeling like I'm still being attacked then you're still getting tased. Your best bet is to let it be known and upfront that I don't want to be touched and If they consider themselves bold enough to continue to touch you, then tase them. That's my logic to that."
6. What should Texas State University do to discourage/condemn sexual assault, and how can they better help the victim(s) on campus?
1. "I feel like Texas State, to a instinct, is doing good. I can say that the police posts all throughout the campus where you can obviously click that button and it will send a alarm to the police department. I have never heard a case where you always hear about people saying that universities typically try to sweep it under the rug, they don't want a public issue or anything like that. Just to address it straight and let it be known that we do not stand for this. Because Texas State is a very open school so I wouldn't want anybody to feel that they can't walk through the campus freely without feeling attacked."
7. What advice, if any, could you give to those who have experienced assault?
1. "If I had to give them advice, it would be to speak up because you never know whose the next story. You never know if your story could help someone else and give them the strength to speak up, and be honest with your story. Because you don't want to give the girls that have actually gone through something not let their voices be heard cause you're lying with your story. So be honest about if something actually happened to you and speak up. Don't embellish, tell the truth. Also, get a taser and get some mace and let them know it's not ok. Like if they try you, let them know that you'll tase them if there is a issue. I'm not going to say it's how you carry yourself. I'm not going to say you're bringing it upon yourself, but be vocal and don't just assume that they should know she don't want me to touch her. Clearly everybody should know to keep your hands to yourself. We learn that in elementary school, but some people don't retain that knowledge. So be vocal and let it be known that you don't want to be touched."