Why is the DePaul Community so Important to Me?

             I chose to do my research on the DePaul Community because sexual violence occurs in all communities. Because DePaul is such a large community, many people will be able to associate with this research and bring the information they have learned to other communities that they are involved in.  The community of DePaul was also an important choice for me because I have felt that DePaul students lack information and knowledge on the subject of sexual assault.   This community is special to me because my experiences at this University have shaped the way I think and how I continue to develop and change as a human being.  I have lived in California my whole life and it is an incredible feeling to feel accepted into a new community in a new city and state.  This community differs from most because the student population is so diverse, students coming from all sorts of backgrounds and demographics.  The relationships built in this community are extremely special for that reason.  Everyone gets to become friends with people with entirely different upbringings.
            I was particularly interested in exploring sexual violence that students at DePaul have encountered.  This includes but is not limited to race, class, age and sexuality.  Sexual violence is an important topic to me personally because the majority of the people in my life have a relationship of some sort with sexual assault, whether it be a personal experience or someone they care about.  I feel that it is important to share my story with my friends, family and peers because it shows that I do not let that event define my life but I let it influence the way I think in a positive manner and hopefully inspire others to do the same.  The journey of healing has been an ever-changing process and I can thank DePaul for the growth that I have experienced over the past three years of my life.  The DePaul community has introduced me to wonderful sub-communities within the school like Vincentians in Action and the Vagina Monologues.  These two communities have also shed light on why Sexual Awareness and taking action are so important.  These organizations have shown me what it is like to work with other people, learn from their personal storytelling and why spreading knowledge is so important. 
       Working with Vagina Monologues has been particularly important to me because this organization opened my eyes to the amount of students that care about the movement to end sexual violence but also the fearful truth of how many women on DePaul's campus have been sexually assaulted or have people in their lives that have been sexually assaulted.  Each member of the Vagina Monologues is associated on a personal level with sexual violence, whether it be in their personal lives or of others close to them. 
         What I have found to be the most important throughout my research is that public advocacy is crucial in the prevention of oppression and alerting college peers in the DePaul community is dire in  raising awareness of Sexual Assault.  

-Sam Bentson 

This community is important to me because I do not know where I would be today if it weren’t for the support that I have found through the DePaul community that I have been privileged enough to grow and heal with these past few years.  These communities have helped me to see that there truly is hope for a better world, but we cannot sit back and wait for someone else to create it; we are all a valuable piece of the transformations that need to take place.  I value this community so much because it is not only a safe space to talk about our experiences of sexual violence, but it is also a group that discuss sex and intimacy both openly and in a positive light which seem to be separated so often.  

I am a part of the DePaul community, and I try to reach out to others.  I have tried to build community with survivors of sexual violence at DePaul.  I enjoy working with people one-on-one as well in small groups, and I have found my passion for working with issues surrounding women affected by violence.  I am fortunate to be surrounded by so many inspiring and strong women that have helped me grow into the woman that I am today trying to make a difference in our circles of friends as well as the greater DePaul community.

We are able to support each other in so many ways through just being willing to sit down and listen to what one another needs to say.  So often these events happen and there is so little support and sensitivity to the situation—especially in residence halls.  It seems as though many people are a lot more concerned with gaining the details of a situation in order to gossip or form their own judgment.  This is very damaging to whoever is going through experience.

After hearing several different stories and getting upset, I realized that instead of getting angry or frustrated time and time again, I should try to work with others to make positive changes in the community.  I believe that bringing a group of people together to share their stories verbally and in writing can provide a unique opportunity to grow together as well as involve the stories to try and make change happen on campus.  Healing and positive social change happen within community, and DePaul has so much potential in building stronger communities and networks on campus.

-Emily Edwards