Sexual violence can happen to anyone. According to the Center for Disease Control, an estimated 20-25 percent of college women in the U.S. have experienced an attempted or completed rape during their college careers.
On Tuesday the Office of Diversity Initiatives welcomed guest speaker Cathy Robinson Pickett to help raise awareness of the impact of sexual violence on a modern society.
"This is as much about creating an experience that is learning, than having a book in front of you," said Michael Freeman, assistant director in student education and student engagement, when introducing Pickett to the audience.
In the opening of her presentation Pickett explained the lack of knowledge most people have concerning sexual violence due to a lack of education in the area.
Psychology senior, Alexandra Buxo, explained she felt that this topic is a matter that is under the rug, and hidden because individuals are afraid of opening their eyes to something many men and women go through.
Pickett began with her emotional story being raped and left for dead while she attended college. Seven years after the rape Pickett re-lived the tragedy by learning she was HIV positive. After years of living and hiding in fear, dealing with death threats and public scrutiny she decided to final speak out about what she underwent to help others cope going through similar situations.
"There could be nothing more important than this," Pickett said when talking about sharing information to individuals on the dangers of sexual violence, and the many facts people do not want to believe are true.
Many believe because the topic of sex is taboo many schools do not address the problem, therefore when many victims are attacked they feel they do not have someone to talk to. Professor Freeman stated he has been at UCF for six years and has seen very little conversation about sexual violence.
Freeman said this is a topic he holds close to his heart, after his daughter was also raped in college.
"I sit in my office where young woman come crying as a result of a sexual violence, we have some great initiative, but we have to know how to reach out to our students," he said.
Mamie Rowe, a senior in the nursing program, said this subject was important as a nurse.
"We need to be aware for whatever patience comes are way how we can help and gain that knowledge to treat a patient and help them help themselves and also how to recognize victims," she said.
According to Pickett, one in every three women will experience an act of sexual violence in her lifetime, and when that occurs she needs to know the resources she has in order to survive.
Pickett said she wants to make a difference by at least impacting a single person's life, she is not focused on changing the nation, or even the state, but is focused on changing the life of one individual when she speaks at a school. She hopes that perhaps that one individual can impact another; and someone's life can ultimately be saved.
UCF offers many services to any individual who has been a victim of sexual violence. If you or anyone you know is a victim of sexual violence find help, and talk about it.
"You can never leave it behind until you speak about it," Pickett.
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