writings: It gets sunny, I get a crush, tragic love and such
2010 Campus Feminist Alliance Event at CSU
This is the final story that I covered for my JTC211 class. This event told the media to not talk about sources at the podium, unless we directly confirmed our source. I talked to Krystal Pederson and explained my assignment. She gave me permission to tell any aspect of her story. Thank you Krystal for giving me the chance to write this.
On April 29, 2010, the Campus Feminist Alliance, a local student organization of Colorado State University, held the 19th annual Take Back the Night event on campus and rallied throughout the Fort Collins community to raise awareness about sexual violence.
Lara Adamson, president of the Campus Feminist Alliance, kicked off the event by speaking to the massive crowd of over 200 students, activists, and individuals who have been affected by sexual violence.
Adamson said that Take Back the Night began 37 years ago in San Francisco, Calif., during an anti-pornography conference. Since then, Adamson says that it has brought a tradition of raising awareness of sexual violence throughout the nation.
“It’s very important for survivors to be heard,” Adamson said. “It’s time to talk about it - this night is for you.”
About 25 survivors of sexual violence broke the silence and shared their stories during this emotional event. Some speakers wanted to simply be heard and provided an emotional and glimpse of their experiences. Other speakers provided invaluable insight for sexual assault prevention for the community.
Krystal Pederson, an undergraduate student at Colorado State University, shared her experience with sexual violence to the crowd. Her stepfather sexually assaulted Pederson while she was a child. Years later, Pederson took her offender to court twice where he was successfully convicted.
Pederson said that oftentimes sexual assault victims find it difficult to turn in their offenders. Pederson says that in certain instances, victims will challenge their offenders to only see them set free. Despite this, Pederson says that it is critical to keep moving forward.
“I cannot stress enough how important it is to move on with your life and focus on your healing,” Pederson said. “Leave the anger and anguish behind, as the end of the day all you can do is live your life and make it as happy as possible.”
Despite her hardships, Pederson says that she owes her thanks to her friends, therapist, and the Sexual Assault Victim for her healing. Pederson said the experience has made her a fierce warrior with a strong soul and spirit.
“I am proud,” Pederson says. “Proud to be a survivor and proud of the strong woman I am becoming. I have reinvented myself in my own way, I am a product of my own design and I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Pederson said that there were many people that suspected she was being sexually abused.
“These people did nothing to help me – they turned the other way,” Pederson said.
Pederson says that we live in a society where it is taboo to talk about sexual assault. Pederson says that survivors desperately need encouragement from the community for their voices to be heard.
Pederson said she encourages everyone to speak up if they believe someone is a victim of sexual assault. Pederson said that acknowledging the issue encourages sexual assault victims to be heard rather than silenced. In addition, Pederson said she personally wanted to ask parents to talk to their children about sexual assault.
“If your child comes to you and says they are being sexually abused or assaulted, listen to them, love them no matter what and believe them,” Pederson said.
Pederson said that seeking help is only the beginning of a long journey of healing that is vital in the prevention of sexual assault. Despite this, she says that one survivor alone is more powerful than all offenders combined.
“We have the power to rise above evil rather than to succumb to it,” Pederson said. “We have the ability to make the right choices and leave the pain and suffering behind rather than inflicting more pain on ourselves.”
Following the survivor’s stories, the Campus Feminist Alliance led a 45-minute march to Old Town Square. During this rally, women unanimously chanted, “claim our bodies, claim our rights, take a stand, take back the night!”
Upon reaching Old Town Square, Roe Bubar, an Ethnic Studies and Social Work Associate Professor, spoke to the crowd about gender violence. Bubar has experience working with survivors, tribes, states, federal agencies and advocacy organizations about sexual violence.
Bubar says that society has led males to believe that they have the right to force sex upon females. Bubar said that gender violence goes beyond buying and selling women on street corners.
Bubar said that indigenous women are even more prone to these dangers. Bubar said that 33% of native women would be raped, along with 25% of women of mixed ethnicities. In comparison, Bubar said that only 17% of Caucasian women would be raped.
“These aren’t just abstract numbers – these are real people,” Bubar said. “They are our neighbors, mentors, family, sisters, daughters and they represent every one of us.”
Bubar said in order to solve this issue, gender violence needs to be heard and state sanctioned policies need to be enacted.
“This is a national issue,” Bubar said. “Women have been left behind for too long in this criminal maze.”
Bubar said that she has two boys of her own. Bubar said she taught them the impact of pornography in society and sexual violence.
“I could never imagine the possibility that my children would be capable of sexual assault,” Bubar said. “I overlooked the issue by never teaching my children not to commit rape.”
Bubar said she advises all parents to teach their children about consent. Bubar said this was a crucial step in ending the spiral of sexual violence.
“If it isn’t clear cut – it’s a crime,” Bubar said. “It’s the same as stealing a car or assaulting a police officer.”
Bubar said that women would be more encouraged to talk about sexual violence if parents took the time to teach them about this critical issue. Bubar said that if parents do not teach their children, then they might be doomed to secrecy.
“We need to stand together as sisters and brothers in order to not tolerate rape or male violence,” Bubar said. “We need to do this as one – to take back the night.”
© Blair Greenwood, 2010