One in five women is sexually assaulted in college.
Of course, this number only reflects the incidences reported and previous reports and studies suggest that only 1percent of men and 8 percent of women report rape or sexual assault to the Gardaí. Victims cite the low level of convictions to be the reason they fail to report the crimes.
When one anonymous student found herself to be privy to the poor level of police action, she turned to Twitter to highlight the crime.
Tweeting under @RapedAtSpelman the student highlights the college’s inability to deal with the allegations and the barrage of abuse she suffered afterwards.
The tweets detail campus officials ask what she was wearing and quizzing her on what she was drinking. The student ultimately dropped out of the college as a result of the incident.
We have reached out to the Twitter account for verification. Article will be updated accordingly.
This is my freshmen year at Spelman and my last year because I decided to leave after what happened to me.
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
I went to a party with my friends there were alot of people there and it was really fun so we decided to drink with the upperclassmen.
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
I was drunk but that doesn’t mean I forgot about what happened. I went to the bathroom upstairs to throw up and when I opened the door I was
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
surrounded by 4 Morehouse students who took me to another room and took turns raping me. I was in shock about what had happened.
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
After it happened I went to find my friends who had already left the party so I had to walk back to campus by myself. When I got there I
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
went to public safety to do a report and I was sent to the hospital for a rape kit. It took Spelman a month to get back to me about my case
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
When I got to the meeting with the Dean and Public Safety they asked me what was I wearing, why did I seperate from my friends, & why was I
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
drinking under age. The Dean also said that Spelman & Morehouse are brother & sister so I should give them a pass. I never felt so worthless
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
in my life. I got so depressed that I wanted to take my own life and I started to self-harm. I don’t want to be at a school that does not
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
make me feel safe and wants to silence me. So I would like to say goodbye to Spelman and to the amazing people I’ve met along the way.
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
Spelman has taught me to be a free thinking woman and also to be a woman who has to keep her mouths closed to protect her “brothers”.
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
You can NEVER say Morehouse has their sisters back if they are just going to force her on it.
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
The college released a statement declaring that a full investigation into the incident was underway.
Spelman College President Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell spoke to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution stating:
“Our hearts go out to this student and I want to personally offer her our full support and assistance. We are a family at Spelman and we will not tolerate any episode of sexual violence. No student should ever have to suffer and endure the experience she has recounted on social media. Spelman is conducting a full and thorough review of these events.”