It is 12:30 a.m. on a Saturday, and I sit here, grieving a life of a girl that I didn't even know.
Just an hour ago I learned of a life lost too soon; a young woman of only 22 years of age was found dead at Indiana University after being reported missing earlier that day. My roommate and I sat silently staring at the news, struck with guilt and sorrow for the family and friends that have to deal with the loss of a life that could have easily been one of us.
It was at that point, that I began to get angry.
Why is it that the news is filled with these horrid stories of college women going missing, getting drugged, getting raped and getting killed? Isn't the purpose of going to college to get a degree, not a death certificate? And yet, I walk around campus with mace in my hand, skeptical of any shadow that lurks around the corner. Even if the sun is shining, I glance sideways at men who walk too closely to me or whose eyes linger for too long.
In college all I ever hear is "be safe" or "don't walk home alone," and I sit there thinking that when I was a child the only thing I was afraid of was monsters in my closet, but now I have to be afraid of the monsters on the street. There is an epidemic of predators and I am so absolutely terrified that I will be the next prey.
I know, I am a small person with a small voice, but at what point are we going to step up and do something about this issue. Beautiful women, inside and out, are being taken, abused and killed right in our neighborhood, and the only thing we, as young women, are doing is sitting back and hoping that it doesn't happen to us or our friends.
It. Can. Happen.
We are not at fault, of course, but there will be better results attained by educating ourselves rather than those who hope to do us harm. Keep your phone with you, travel with a buddy, and please, please trust your gut feelings. Do not get into a car with someone you do not know, and never ever trust a stranger. Tell your friends and family you love them, and watch out for yourself. The most we can do is be knowledgable, and aware of what we are doing and understand that any of these things can easily happen to one of us. Be careful.
My heart goes out to those who had known the young lady that lost her life this weekend and to all of the families that have lost daughters in the past due to a tragedy.
I hope for a day when we no longer feel threatened walking the streets of our campus.
