Ms. Janet Millar, speaker at the Brown Bag luncheon, welcomes the audience in the Stockdale Room at CSUB on April 24, 2014.
By Hiba Ali
Staff Writer
Students and staff gathered in the Runner Café’s Stockdale Room on April 24 for the monthly Brown Bag Discussion, which focused on the issue of sexual assault. This month’s discussion was “From Victims to Survivors,” with women speaking out about their sexual assault stories to increase awareness.
Diana Cisneros, 27, a member of the runawaygirl.org and Savannah Andrews, a 20-year-old CSUB student and the ASI Vice President of Programming, shared their sexual assault stories with the attendees.
Cisneros’ father had forced her at a young age into having sex with different men.
“I did not know any different; that was new to me,” she said.
When Cisneros was growing up, little by little she knew what was happening to her was wrong and how much it hurt her. The older she got, the more people she was forced into sex with, both men and women.
“I hated my life. I did not want to live. I needed help,” said Cisneros.
She was afraid and embarrassed to talk about it until she found the hand that helped her. She knew she would be homeless if she left her father, but she had to try.
It took her time to recover, but in the end she survived.
Andrews had a different kind of story. Her story was about betrayal.
When she was 16, Andrews dated a 22-year-old military man, who took her to a party and made her drink lots of alcohol.
“I did not know much, I did not used to party, I was kind of a nerd,” said Andrews.
Victim, survivor and guest speaker, Savannah Andrews, reads her story on trafficking recovery during the Brown Bag Luncheon, on April 24, 2014.
He took her to a bedroom where he was insisting to have sex with her, and she kept saying no. He forced her into having sex regardless of her refusal.
After her attack, she wanted to commit suicide. She started to fail her classes. When Andrews’ best friend heard her story, she had to talk to the person they both trusted: their teacher. Their teacher talked to her mom. Her mother not only took her to report this crime, but also advised her to see a trusted therapist.
“Sixty percent of the sexual assault crimes are unreported,” said Andrews. “I do not regret anything in my life, because of that, I am stronger person.”
“If you are in a situation where you are not comfortable with, speak up,” said Cisneros.
“Don’t leave your water or alcohol or anything unattended, carry it with you, don’t even trust, like, your guy friend or girl friend or whoever because you never know what they will put in it,” said Andrews.
They both agreed, though, that everyone should speak up and reach out. There are people who would help you no matter what, there is hope, and that you are not alone.
According to Mariah Wenzel, a senior reporter and print designer at collegecentral.com, “Reports of sexual crimes have leapt from just two in 2012, to ten in 2013. Ninety percent of these reports came from residence halls, according to California State University Police Department crime statistics.”
“There was only one sexual assault reported to the CSUB’s police department the past two years,” said Lt. Williams of the CSUB Police Department.
He also wanted to advise students who have been sexually assaulted that they should immediately report it to the Counseling Center or campus police.
“If you report [the incident], you may potentially prevent other people from sexual assault,” said Williams.
Students should report any sexual assault, whether it happened to them or if they actually saw one. Remember, if you see something, say something.
