An Ugly Truth by Tara Campbell

BURLINGTON, VT - Rape. It’s an ugly truth that no one wants to talk about. When it happens, it becomes a dirty little secret. Many think that it can never happen to them. Burlingtonians seem to think that their city is the safest city, and nothing terrible will happen here. Reality-yes, it can. Who, when, and where, nobody can ever be certain. Rape claims its victims everyday, any time, and only one thing is certain-it changes lives forever.

Rape happens right here, on the streets of Burlington, when one least expects it. Shaken by the horrific experience, some victims report the incident to the local authorities, but most live in silence-and in fear. According to the Women’s Rape Crisis Center (WRCC), there are 522 survivors of sexual violence a year in Burlington alone. The WRCC receives 2,284 calls a year, which averages about six calls a day.

Both women and men can be victims of rape, though women’s cases are usually brought to general knowledge more so than men. Eighty-six percent of reported cases are female, while the remaining fourteen percent are male. Many of the rape victims are familiar with their attackers, ranging from acquaintances, to former partners, family members, authority figures, and the last percent are strangers.

Every minute, 1.3 adult women are raped, 78 per hour, and 1,871 per day. As few as 10% of sexual assaults are reported to the police. Victims are often raped in circumstances involving roofies, alcohol, parties, or simply walking down the street.

Survivors have one of two choices to deal with rape: bury the truth so deep inside that it never comes up again, or seek counseling, treatment, shelter, or comfort, from the dark reality, even if just for a little while.

Rape is a hard truth to accept, and an even harder truth to deal with, because the aftermath is going to be much more than anyone bargained for. Emotional, physical, and mental reactions come in waves, and can last for months, or for years, depending on the person. Two to one, they will experience feelings of shame, anger, despair, betrayal, sadness, heartache, and so much more. Physically, they could avoid eating of any sort, be extra cautious, lose trust even in those closest to them, attempt to detach themselves from the world, cease caring about many things, or vomit, sweat, and spend many, many nights crying themselves to sleep.

For some, sleep becomes a loss, as well as a terror. Nights are filled with nightmares, disorientation, tears, and terrified screams. Insomnia becomes a solace because every time they close their eyes, they relive their ordeal all over again. Some may experience a variety of mental health complications, such as anxiety, depression or PTSD (Post-traumatic stress disorder), and it will affect them time and time again.

A woman could be at risk for rape in the same place they attend classes every day. As a female student, it is within their own best interests to be aware of the circumstances, because rape does happen right here on Champlain College campus, though it’s not widely reported. Champlain has taken steps to offer support and treatment to rape victims, or those who have had loved ones raped. The Student Life Center houses a team of counselors that are experts in a variety of areas. Though none of them specifically focus on counseling rape cases, they are still there for those who wish for help. There is no set numerical standard for cases seen a year, but even counseling just one victim makes all the difference.

Jennifer Hughes, a counselor and Drug/Alcohol Educator, is one of those sought out for treatment, advice, or just a shoulder to cry on. “This year, I have worked with five young women who have been assaulted at some point in their life and are beginning to work through what that means to them. Additionally, I have worked with several students who have a loved one who has been assaulted and they are impacted by it and they are trying to make sense of the experience as well.”

For those whose sordid experience have lead them to the shelter of a counselor’s office, or a guided word, it could be the first step towards coming to terms with the night, or multiple occasions, that has altered their life. Everyone comes to terms with it at different points in their lives, and through different ways. “It depends, some people never do, others do immediately-most people come to terms with it at different points in time when it had different meaning to them, depending on where they are at in their lives and if a circumstance changes their perspective,” said Hughes in regards to her own experience in counseling rape victims, “some people deal with it in “waves”-they may do some treatment and take a break and then do some more-others do it all at once, other people will wait years before they are ready.”

How rape affects its victims differs as much as the colors of skin, race, ethnicity, location, reasons, and why it happens does. One thing that rape has in common with all victims, male or female, young or old, is that it “is a disempowering experience.” Sometimes, within the treatment of a rape victim, it is crucial to make sure they know they are in a safe place and it is “important to give the power back to a person by allowing them to have choice about what would support them to work through the experience.”

The knowledge of rape is a tough one to accept and understand; those who’ve suffered, and survived, must face it every single day. For many, a simple attitude of justice served would console the minds and souls of the victims, their families, loved ones, and other support systems-but it’s not that easy. Many of the rapes right here in Burlington go unreported and those guilty of the violence are free to strike again. In an ideal world, those offenders would be put behind bars and never released, but often enough, they walk away free, without so much as a slap on the wrist. “Often, people may report but choose not to press charges because there is not enough evidence to hold the perpetrator accountable, or because the court process can be lengthy and go on for years,” says Hughes. For some of those victimized by the “monsters,” “bastards,” “sick, perverted assholes,” rapists have been called, the whole court process can be a form of closure and they can make an attempt to move on with their lives. Others know themselves unable to heal if they encounter their perps face-to-face because “they will feel re-victimized if the perpetrator is not held accountable.” Whether or not a rapist is convicted and sentenced, justice is not always served for all because there are flaws in every case.

Rape breaks some, and makes others stronger. It will impact a survivor in many ways-change, shape, and help them become who they are, but “at the core everyone remains who they have always been.”