BY: Denver Sean
Published 9 years ago
A Twitter account with the handle ‘@RapedAtSpelman‘ appeared online less than 24 hours ago and tells the story of a young woman who says she was the victim of rape at Spelman College by four Morehouse College students.
In a series of tweets, the anonymous Spelman freshman recounts the night she went to a party with friends and ended up getting sexually assaulted by the four men. She also details the steps she took after the incident to report the rape and how administration handled the process.
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727258428914159617
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727258757843943425
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727259142025564160
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727259818856185857
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727260046493650948
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727260279860514816
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727260609784496129
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727260878236717062
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727261115672084480
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727261470644441089
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727261712701906944
https://twitter.com/RapedAtSpelman/status/727261911423827973
Her story sent shockwaves through the Spelman and Morehouse communtity and spawned several hashtags, including #RapedAtSpelman, #RapedAtMorehouse, and #RapedByMorehouse.
Students are now using the hashtags to share their stories, amplify their voices and shed light on the issue of ‘rape culture.’ Protests are also happening across the Spelman campus.
https://twitter.com/TheRealAree_/status/727592807129567232
Looking at #RapedatMorehouse and reminded that what happens to a victim AFTER a rape is almost as bad as the rape (if not worse).
— Jamilah Lemieux (@JamilahLemieux) May 3, 2016
"I am somebody and I deserve full equality. Right here! Right now!"#RapedAtSpelman #RapedAtMorehouse pic.twitter.com/wEWYOj3uPi
— ?? – ?| they/them (@DaShaunLH) May 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/kailynnmariee/status/727591920399208448
#Silencing to protect brothers. Culture before self-care and self-worth. #rapedatmorehouse https://t.co/4wmRQkq4fT
— the seeds Willa sowed (@nadreanjoku) May 3, 2016
These stories are really resonating with me. I'm literally shaking. #RapedatMorehouse #RapedatSpelman
— Maybe: K. (@missbossladykai) May 3, 2016
Hey. Me again.
The point of the hashtag #RapedAtMorehouse isn't to make you feel good about what's going on. If you're uncomfortable, why?— #StopCopCity (@_afrodiziak) May 3, 2016
I want justice for those who were #RapedAtSpelman and those who were #RapedByMorehouse. Sending you all my love and support.
— Belle Yves (pinned tweet) (@AdamantxYves) May 3, 2016
As @Morehouse alum, I don't see #rapedbymorehouse or #rapedatspelman as attacks but calls to hold our administrations accountable
— Faraji (@farajidotAI) May 3, 2016
https://twitter.com/__Jaasmineee/status/727530371785457664
https://twitter.com/Philosavery/status/727486981903650816
Great thread! Come out tmrw at 4 to support! #packthehalls #rapedatspelman https://t.co/p1ewpzzpM1
— Clarissa Brooks (@ClarissaMBrooks) May 3, 2016
Back in January, Buzzfeed published a story with reports of rape from both past and present Spelman students dating back to the mid 1990s. Since the feature went public, Spelman and Morehouse administrators announced initiatives to help combat the issue of campus rape and mishandling allegations.
In response to the allegations from ‘@RapedAtSpelman,’ the school says they’re investigating.
“Our hearts go out to this student and I want to personally offer her our full support and assistance,” Spelman President Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell said in a statement provided to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“We are a family at Spelman and we will not tolerate any episode of sexual violence,” she wrote. “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.”
The school did not immediately say whether the alleged victim had filed a police report or other complaint. They did not specify whether they knew who the alleged victim was. The tweets did not say when the alleged assault took place.
[via HBCU Digest]
