By Andrea Pavlacka, '09 |Staff Reporter

Katie Koestner was sexually assaulted in her first year of college at William and Mary College in 1991.
Instead of pretending it never happened, she spoke out and went on to later found Campus Outreach Services, which educates students about sexual assault and how to prevent it, and helps people who have been victimized cope.

A former date rape victim will share her story next Thursday, Feb. 15, in the STUAC Theater from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

Katie Koestner was sexually assaulted in her first year of college at William and Mary College in 1991. Instead of pretending it never happened, she spoke out and went on to later found Campus Outreach Services, which educates students about sexual assault and how to prevent it, and helps people who have been victimized cope.

Koestner has been sharing her gripping story with the world to help prevent this atrocity from happening to others. She has been featured on “Larry King Live, Oprah Winfrey, MTV, Good Morning America,” and “NBC Nightly News”, says Sarah Mansfield, a counselor at the Student Health Center. Koestner has presented her moving and educational speech at over 1,000 college campuses across the country, and has written several books on the prevention of sexual assault on campus.

This event is open to the community and local high schools, and is hosted by the Sheila Johnson Institute and the NCAA. Koestner will be discussing her horrific experience in order to spread awareness to listeners about the horrors of date rape and sexual assault.

Sexual assault and date rape can happen to anyone on any campus, and it often goes unreported. Both rape and sexual assault are known as “silent crimes” says Sarah Mansfield, a MSC counselor. Victims are too ashamed to come forward because they think it’s all their fault.

 To learn more about sexual assault and how you can prevent it from happening to you or someone you love, come listen to hear Katie Koestner next week.