Kristin's Story

Last Wednesday I was fortunate enough to attend Kristin’s Story in the Chemistry Auditorium. It was a presentation put on by Andrea Cooper, the mother of a young college student named Kristin who was raped and committed suicide a few months after the horrific experience. Cooper travels all around the country to speak and raise awareness on college campuses regarding acquaintance rape, depression, and suicide. It is her mission to stop those same situations from occurring, which caused her only child to take her life. Her message was powerful, full of love, tears, and determination to keep college women and men safe. I left with a better understanding of how frequent acquaintance rape occurs especially at colleges, and the knowledge of many resources UVA itself offers to protect its students. Even though the event already passed, if you want to learn more about protecting yourself and your peers you can…

 

 

1.     1. attend presentations put on by the Peer Health Educators

2.     2. call SARA- the Sexual Assault Resource agency in case of emergencies on their 24 hour hotline at 977-7273 or www.sexualassaultresources.org

3.   3.   http://www.virginia.edu/studenthealth/caps/Resources.html use CAPS- Counseling and Psychological Services resources which include free counseling for UVA students

4.   4.  or even visit http://www.kristinsstory.com/ to learn more about Andrea Cooper’s goal

 

So many other resources are available for UVA students. Do not be afraid to use them!

 

 

-Sydney