I am writing regarding the rape that occurred on campus on March 25. I am a 1998 graduate of Saint Mary's and now work as a victim advocate for victims of domestic violence.

I am very disturbed that a student can rape or allegedly rape another student without anyone knowing his name. Unfortunately, the key to his identity lies in the hands of the victim. No one can ever know what the victim has suffered, but as a victim advocate I have an understanding of the suffering victims go through.

Whoever the victim is, I hope you are reading this. Often the victim feels shame, but you shouldn't. You have done nothing wrong, you just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. That is not a crime, and he should be ashamed, not you.

I realize that this is a hard time for you, but you should not let this person get away with this heinous crime. I am sure that you do not want anyone else to suffer the way you are suffering right now. The only way to help ensure that this person does not rape someone else is to pursue criminal charges.

You may feel that this will be too hard to do at this point, but you really should for your sake and for the sake of any other women with whom this alleged rapist may have contact in the future. It is natural to be scared and just want to forget about the whole incident, but criminal charges must be pursued.

There are services to help you in the community. I hope that you are already working with the University's counseling services. You do not have to deal with this crime alone. If you press charges, you will have a victim advocate from Sex Offense Services help you through the criminal justice system and you will remain anonymous.

I know from my experience that women often feel like they are being re-victimized when they go through the system, but they also know that this must be done. Please consider pressing criminal charges for your sake. Feel free to contact me at RachaelAnna@

hotmail.com.

Rachael Sederberg

Saint Mary's College

Class of '98

April 4, 2000

• Making a difference with student support
  
• Napster has no legitimate use
  
• Napster has no legitimate use
  
• Quote of the Day
  
• Community responds to alleged rape incident
  
• Community responds to alleged rape incident
  
• Community responds to alleged rape incident