"He made me believe I had no choice. He made me believe I had no voice. He made me believe I had no way out. I am here today because there is a way out," confessed a teary-eyed Nicole Braddock Bromley in her speech Tuesday evening titled "Our Little Secret."
Bromley is the founder and director of OneVOICE Enterprises and the author of "Hush: Moving from Silence to Healing After Childhood Sexual Abuse."
She served as the guest speaker for Take Back the Night, a ceremony and candlelight vigil sponsored by the women's studies program and the office of wellness in Student Affairs.
The annual event is conducted in support and recognition of victims of sexual assault and violence.
A victim herself, Bromley shared her personal story with the audience, recounting her childhood and early teen years of abuse by her step-father. She kept them secret until her freshman year of high school.
When she was 15, she stepped up to the microphone in front of her peers at the end of a summer camp and, instead of recalling great summer experiences, shared her secret.
Now, more than 10 years later, Bromley's goal is to break the silence and give a "voice to the voiceless" on the subject of sexual assault and violence.
"Breaking the silence and sharing your story is the first step in healing," said Bromley.
During the 2006-2007 academic year, there were two reported cases of sexual assault at Otterbein.
Both cases were eventually closed, meaning no judicial or criminal action was taken, according to Jason Schilling, administrator/investigator for the Security Department.
The timing of Take Back the Night coincided with April's National Sexual Assault Awareness month.
"I encourage everyone to use resources, participate in events, discussions and programs to increase public awareness about this crime that affects 1 in 6 American women," said Cindy Dryer, director of the office of violence against women, encouraged others to raise awareness.
"Working together we can change attitudes, continue to support victims and hold perpetrators responsible," she said.
Bromley pointed out in her speech that more than 90 percent of sexual assault cases in colleges involve alcohol or some other drug.
College campuses are increasingly susceptible to sexual violence toward women, according to a study done by the National Institute of Justice.
A college that has 10,000 female students could experience as many as 350 rapes a year, according to the study's findings.
"The reality is, in America, women and girls are exposed to sexual assault and violence," said Sarah Fatherly, director of women's studies.
"It's important for our campus to acknowledge that it's a problem and to see if we can change it. Take Back the Night brings attention to the issue. It is a reality," she said.
After Bromley's speech, there was a poetry reading and a candlelight vigil in honor of those who have been affected, know someone who has been affected, or are currently struggling.
"The vigil is empowering and it makes you feel stronger to be with other women for a night, who all say, 'we don't want this to continue and we need it to stop,'" said Tammy Birk, English professor and women's studies advisory committee member.
"This is really about giving credit to girls and women who survive sexual assault, and inspiring women to not be as afraid," said Birk. t&c;
