Students share victim stories at candlelight vigil

Candlelit paper bags with descriptions of violence written on them outlined the Cistern yard, setting the scene for an emotional event. Students gathered closely with white lights symbolizing the victims of violence at C of C’s Crisis Assistance Response and Education’s third annual No Violence No Victims Candlelight Vigil on Sept. 29.
CARE held the vigil to honor victims of violent crimes as well as to promote the necessary awareness for prevention. Student Government Association John Capelle opened the event with statistics about the level of violence in the United States.
“One person is murdered every 31 minutes, one person is raped every 1.9 minutes, one person is assaulted every 36.9 seconds, one woman is victimized by an intimate partner every 52 seconds,” Capelle said.
The vigil included speakers who have experienced violence, such as senior Brittany Curran, who was stabbed last year during a robbery while she was on her way home late at night. She spoke of the mental anguish she experienced after the incident.
“Sometimes I would be fine and other times little things would trigger me and cut me off from the world,” Curran said.
Curran warned of the unexpected nature of violent crimes.
“I was not untouchable, and bad things do happen even if you’re a good person,” said Curran.
Sophomores Leander Hamrick and Sarah Karafa, sexual abuse victims, spoke of their experiences and the consequences that followed.
“Lots of things in my life changed. I was afraid to go anywhere alone,” said Karafa.
Even things on campus were difficult for Karafa.
“I had new friends who didn’t know about the event walk with me in between classes or I would not leave the building,” said Karafa.
Hamrick expressed the difficulty of coming to terms with sexual abuse.
“Being a victim of sexual abuse has a lifetime impact mentally, physically and emotionally. I went through two years of therapy before I was able to accept what had actually happened to me,” Hamrick said.
Hamrick stressed that family and friends need to be open and understanding.
“If a friend comes to you and tells you that they have been sexually abused do not ask them why they didn’t do this or do that,” said Hamrick.
Hamrick offered other advice.
“Sit and listen to their situation and try to understand fully,” Hamrick said.
Taking the podium last was senior Adam Serfas, president of One in Four. He spoke of the purpose and goals of the all-male organization.
“246,000 women are raped every year in the U.S.,” said Serfas. “Our main goal in One in Four is to reduce those numbers by teaching our community how to help people that have gone through those experiences and teaching males how to reduce their risk of committing any of these offenses.”
Serfas explained why the organization only consists of males.
“There was a lot of research done showing that teaching co-ed groups (about sexual abuse) actually increases everyone’s chances of committing sexual violent acts,” Serfas said.
The research suggested same-gender counseling, Sefras said.
“A group of all males teaching all males was the only successful program that decreased the chances of sexual violent acts,” Serfas said.
Currently the group is actively recruiting younger students to carry on the tradition.
“The group right now is all older guys, and we are having problems recruiting some of the younger guys that don’t seem as interested,” said Serfas. “We are slowing down our presentations and trying to pick up memberships so [One in Four] can continue once we graduate.”
The event was concluded with a performance from the Chucktown Trippintones singing “Candle on the Water.”
 Senior Kaley Laro thought highly of the students who shared their experiences.
“I thought each of the speakers were very brave because it took a lot guts to go up there and tell their stories to people they didn’t know,” Laro said.
Capelle thought the event was productive.
“No one ever realizes about this victimization until it actually impacts them directly,” Capelle said. “It’s events like these that really get the word out. I know each time it is very sobering to hear these stories.”
Students who have been victimized can contact the College’s CARE unit at (843) 953-3390 and their emergency response team at (843) 724-3600.