Title IX Changes 16 Years After My Rape

16 years ago, I went to sleep alone. When I woke up, I pushed him off me and said no. I then spent 6 hours in the emergency room being poked and prodded while evidence was collected off and out of my body.

When I finally got back to campus, I spent hours with what seemed like endless campus officials answering questions, reliving it… over and over and over.

All I wanted was to take a shower to wash it all away. The next day I left school.

For months I dealt with police and detectives having to tell what happened to me once again… over and over and over. In the end, my report was NEVER sent to the judicial office, and the police LOST my rape kit and the whole investigation. It wasn't until 8 years later was, I was told this was all due to a fax "issue" and a "misplacement" of my case.

No one should go through what I went through. This is why I advocate for victims. This is why I do what I do. So much has changed since then at the colleges and in the legislation for victims and survivors.

And, yet today 16 years to the day of when I was raped, the Department of Education released a 2,033 paged document changing the Title IX regulations. Once again, justice, rights, and options are being taken away from the victims and survivors of sexual assault.

When will it end? I can't answer that, but I'M NOT GIVING UP!