Survivor Talk

The Cincinnati Enquirer published survivors' stories without their fully informed consent. Through an underhanded use of rhetoric, the survivors were led to believe that this project would be an advocacy piece. Their stories and the exchanges they had with journalists are shown in the "Survivor Correspondence" tab. After seeing the published story, one survivor asked #ArrogantAmy to remove their name and videos. She refused to take it down.

We reject the claim that #CorruptKate and #ManipulativeMeg just wanted to “lift” survivors' stories and that this project was “always about understanding” for this simple reason: if you TRULY are attempting to be an ally for SURVIVORS and not perpetrators then you would understand the very basic concept of revocation of consent. The Enquirer has shown they have no respect for the consent of survivors. We, along with The Collective at Miami University, call for the article to be taken down, a public apology issued to survivors, and mandatory trauma-informed training be implemented for all Cincinnati Enquirer and USA Today employees.
#SurvivorTalk

Survivor Statements

“Last year I did an interview with the Cincinnati Enquirer. I was told by the reporters they were doing a video project about sexual assault on college campuses and wanted to get a variety of perspectives. I was hesitant to do the interview but was told by the reporters that I had a compelling story that deserved to be told. The interview went well, the reporters were nice and made me feel comfortable sharing. Originally, the piece was to be published last year but was delayed. I was nervous, this was my first video interview.
When it was finally published about a week ago I was utterly devastated. The video also featured a perpetrator of sexual assault, who was found responsible by his school and consequently dismissed, and a perpetrator who claims they were falsely accused. I was never told there was going to be a perpetrator in the video. I was completely unprepared for the emotional fallout. When I watched the video I experienced a rush of fear and anxiety that I haven’t felt in a long time. While he may not be not my perpetrator, the very sound of his voice made me afraid. I initially waited to respond or articulate how I was feeling. After I thought about the issue for several days. I spoke to colleagues, who ultimately confirmed my sentiment. Furthermore, those who saw the video were confused as to why my story was told with his. I emailed the reporters and expressed my feelings. I was upset that I was never informed that my story would be featured alongside a perpetrator of sexual assault. The piece is called “The Sex Talk: The conversation that is not happening about campus sexual assault” and one of the topics is consent. In an email I received back, informing me the video would not be removed, I was harshly told “You agreed to participate. That was your choice.” However, given the fact I was not given all the information I was not provided with the opportunity to make a decision of informed consent. In the days past, I have been filled with feelings of anxiety, hurt, and betrayal. I had trusted these people with my story. They claimed they wanted to give me the chance to tell my story, to feel empowered, and give my voice a platform. Now I’m left feeling as though my story is no longer my own. And to disregard my wish for it to be removed is nothing short of disrespectful. I understand they are the reporters and it isn’t up to me to decide what they write. But I had the right to pertinent information so I could decide if I wanted to be apart of this. The Cincinnati Enquirer has twisted by voice and stripped me of the confidence that took years to build in sharing my experience.”