My Spring Weekend Nightmare
A Firsthand Account Of Sexual Assault On 'The Rape Trail'
Melissa Bruen
Issue date: 5/2/08 Section: News
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Last Saturday morning I got out of bed after a few hours of restless sleep, more than a little hung over. It is when I looked in the mirror and saw the handprints on my biceps that the events of the previous night came flooding back. I saw that my phone was shut off, and I was thankful that I would not have to answer any calls, until I realized the UConn police officer I spoke with the night before would be calling me to make a written statement. I had to decide if I wanted to press charges.
In nine days I graduate from the University of Connecticut, but my last week is not that of a typical student. I have spent more time in bed this week than I have for most of the semester.
I am almost able to go about my daily routine without thinking about what happened to me. Then I take a shower and see the bruises on my arms and legs and right cheek. My arms still ache and I am emotionally and physically exhausted.
I am a strong person - I have a swimmer's build with broad shoulders - but now I feel weak and timid. What if I hadn't fought back? Would I be physically and emotionally stronger today? If I hadn't been so stubborn and embarrassed when the police refused to let me go to my friend's apartment in Celeron maybe I would not have been alone or a target on the Hunting Lodge Road Trail - the three-quarter-mile-long paved, well-lit path from North Hillside Road to Celeron - known as "the rape trail."
As a freshman I was told "the rape trail" led to the off-campus apartments where the big parties UConn was known for were held. Four years later, I am able to understand why it is called so.
Students are always told not to walk alone, especially at night, and that it is safer to travel in groups. This is a lesson I will not forget. I have always felt safe walking alone around UConn at night. Having worked for The Daily Campus for four years made this a necessity. So Friday with so many people, and police, around, I didn't think twice about heading back to campus alone from Celeron.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 89
- Nameless
posted 5/02/08 @ 1:45 PM EST
I'm happy you fought back, drunkenness is no excuse. I was forcibly kissed and grabbed this weekend and being to drunk to push away I couldn't do anything but utter the words "no" over and over again. (Continued…)
Nameless
posted 5/02/08 @ 2:27 PM EST
Thank you for being the voice of the silenced.
Pat
posted 5/02/08 @ 2:29 PM EST
Good for you in defending yourself. It's a shame that so few around you tried to help.
Maureen
posted 5/02/08 @ 2:57 PM EST
This story seems like a graduating journalist's cry for fame. If I'm mistaken, then I am sorry, but I don't buy into any of it. Sweet picture on the front page, and nice "swimmer's build," but I feel sorry for anyone who is actually a victim of assault and doesn't have such a romanticized story to tell. (Continued…)
Bill Rose
posted 5/02/08 @ 4:28 PM EST
Five drinks makes you too drunk to drive a car, but it doesn't make you too drunk to get the facts of your story wrong. I think your story rings true and I'm so sorry it happened. (Continued…)
Orlando
posted 5/02/08 @ 5:30 PM EST
That takes courage to write an article like that. Hopefully, and I think it will, at least one person (if not more) will think about this story while walking alone next Spring Weekend or any weekend for that matter. (Continued…)
saturn2187
Craig
posted 5/02/08 @ 6:07 PM EST
Wow. I guess this just goes to show that when these warnings about the dangers of spring weekend are espoused, the "it can't happen to me" reigns. In no way am I saying you deserved it, as the guys were clearly assholes and deserved to be punished, but Uconn needs to do something to address the problem. (Continued…)
Jaime
posted 5/02/08 @ 6:14 PM EST
Thank you for putting your story out there. It keeps us aware that no matter how many police and school officials are there we still need to look out for ourselves and know to fight back. (Continued…)
Thomas
posted 5/02/08 @ 6:29 PM EST
I have talked with a number of people about this topic, and I am torn between talking about this between two different ways.
Let me first start off by saying that I feel sorry for what happened. (Continued…)
Sara
posted 5/02/08 @ 6:48 PM EST
I agree with Thomas. It was very brave for her to come out and tell her story, but I believe that it could have be done more tastefully. First, the phrase on the tee-shirt distracts the reader from the story. (Continued…)
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