Being a freshman in college is scary, especially when you're a freshman girl and it's only September.

And especially when your campus is blowing up after controversy over Title IX investigations and when a fraternity is suspended for a sexist email. If you're not even a month into your freshman year, I can imagine the fear and the panic of not ever wanting to go out or feel at home.

I remember being a freshman girl where all of the newness is just terrifying: new friends, new people, new social events, new social standards. Everything is a little bit of a frenzy as you try to figure out where your place is on campus and what social norms are. But after the news on campus, I would have been even more terrified.

To freshmen girls, and especially those at the University of Richmond: You have support and resources. Not everything is scary nor does it need to be. I say that fully understanding that what's happened and that these are terrible things that no person would ever wish on another person. They're not okay or acceptable by any means. Perpetuating poor language is not something that's acceptable.

But I think the point that I want to emphasize is that there are good people on this campus and there are good people to help you out. The reason there was outrage over CC's articles and how administration handled it is that Richmond is a tight-knit community and these actions are not tolerated. When one Spider is treated poorly, it reflects on all of us. We're a small enough school that everyone somewhat knows everyone and people will look out for you. Though I'm incredibly disappointed with how certain cases were handled on campus, I'm proud of our community sticking together to stand up for what we believe in and demanding change.

My heart aches for the survivors where the situation couldn't have been stopped by a bystander or there was no one who knew what to do. I want to emphasize that there are people here who want to look out for you and be there for you in whatever way possible.

We as women stick together on campus. We look out for things that don't seem right, for the girl that might have had a little too much, for situations that just don't sit right. I feel as if I speak for many women on campus that say they'll intervene when they see something that's not right. It doesn't matter if we're best friends or have never met, there's something intrinsically that makes us all remember the fear and worries of being a freshman girl.

To my freshmen girls who are terrified: reach out when you need help. Text or call your Orientation Advisor, your Westhampton Big, your friend in another organization. Reach out to the girls in your own grade even if you two don't know each other. If you're out, don't hesitate to reach out to someone you don't know if you're in a risky situation.

We've all been freshmen girls at some point. We've all been "there," whatever scary "there" is for you. No matter if it's you or a friend that's in a bad situation, ask for help. Though I ache for changes to be made all across the spectrum and for there to not be this need, my heart also aches for the women who are terrified to trust the people on their own campus again.

Know that we're here for you.

For more information on bystander training, contact Spiders for Spiders.