Resources for victims:
office of victim services (765) 285 - 7844
university police (765) 281-1111
One in six men will experience sexual assault in their lifetime (more likely when under 18)
One in four will experience sexual assault in their lifetime
Only 42 percent of victims tell someone else they experienced sexual violence - only 5 to 16 percent of the 42 pursue legal action
73 percent know their assaulter
Source: rainn.org
But traveling speaker Tim Mousseau encourages people to talk about it so victims can get the attention they deserve.
A male survivor himself, Mousseau shared his experience with sexual assault during the first event of Step In. Speak Up. week on Aug. 31 at Pruis Hall. He used his presentation to emphasize how important it is to start having conversations about sexual assault in large communities.
“As humans, the way we connect with one another is through stories,” Mousseau said. “I’m at Ball State because the only way to actually experience change is through starting conversations and taking responsibility for our actions.”
Mousseau didn't know he had been sexually assaulted until he received an anonymous photograph of it, forcing him to deal with evidence of something he had no memory of after a night of drinking. In a matter of minutes, Mousseau said “his life changed forever.”
“When I looked down and saw pictures of something that, to my prior knowledge, had never happened, I just ran outside and hit the ground," Mousseau said. "Someone stole something from me. My life was never going to be the same."
After the photos surfaced, it took years for Mousseau to feel like he could speak out about what happened.
In his presentation Monday, Mousseau talked about the necessary facilitation of healthy conversations on sexual assault and resources to assist survivors in their recovery processes, regardless of the time frame.
In an effort to initiate more dialogues and stories on the matter, he encouraged college students to “lose the fears about what people might think and start focusing on the outcome of actually doing something that will warrant change.”
Mousseau added that everyone has a reason to speak up; every 107 seconds, someone in America is sexually assaulted, according to the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network.
The Step In. Speak Up. committee that this week of awareness will jump-start the conversations Mousseau wants to happen.
“We really want students to be aware,” said Rahissa Engle, a senior psychology major and Step In. Speak Up. co-chair. “There seems to be a lack of alertness about what sexual assault is and why the red zone is so prominent right now, and this a chance for students to raise awareness and understanding through talking to one another.”
Some of these conversations may already be starting. Freshman art major Justice Archer said she felt compelled after hearing Mousseau speak, and she too, wants to stand up for victims of sexual assault.
“Being someone who has suffered through sexual assault, I feel encouraged having someone stand in front of us with a voice for those that share that same experience,” Archer said.
Unlike Mousseau, Archer knew her assaulter. She said it doesn’t make it any easier, though, and it took time before she was able to discuss what had happened with anyone else.
“I felt like it was my fault for the longest time, and hearing what Tim [Mousseau] said tonight was really relatable in a lot of ways,” Archer said. “I didn’t give my permission for what happened to me, and that is something that needs to be shared. If you’re not okay with what’s happening, then it’s not okay for it to continue.”
Although she felt informed before, Archer said hearing Mousseau speak has made her better equipped to educate others on consent and start talking about why sexual assault is prevalent.
“This is all something that should be really basic for people, but it’s not right now, and that’s a problem that needs to be addressed,” Archer said.
Mousseau finished his presentation with praise that “Ball State is taking a step in the direction that we all need to follow in order to address sexual assault in our community.”
Step In. Speak Up. week continues its campaign with more events throughout the week of Aug. 31 - Sept. 4.
“Step In. Speak Up. is not just a one day thing," Engle said. "We want students to understand that you can do something about sexual assault and awareness everyday."
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