Allexis Fuchs

Social Media Editor

“I am Jane Doe,” the phrase, came from the civil suit of a former undergraduate student at Cornell University, who filed the lawsuit under the name “Jane Doe.” In that lawsuit, Jane Doe listed seven members of Cornell’s Chi Phi chapter, which she accused of gang-raping her.

Social media took off, with many people trying to leak her information online, even though it was clear she did not want her name associated with this lawsuit. She did not want her life to become a spectacle but simply wanted justice.

In response, many survivors of sexual assault came forward, sharing their own stories, stating, “I am Jane Doe.” They shielded her identity while expressing solidarity, a deep understanding of where she came from because they too were survivors of sexual assault.

“I am Jane Doe” rallies quickly started to pop up all around the country with universities being the center of many.

ESU was no different. As soon as word came out about the rally, students began sharing the flyer across social media. ESU’s Student Government Association (SGA) and ESU Health and Wellness posted the flyer along with another flyer stating the students would be meeting at Stroudhedge on Saturday, Oct. 24, at 1 p.m. From there, they would walk to the Monroe County Courthouse.

Many community members were at the courthouse. Safe Monroe spoke along with Tarah Probst, a Pennsylvania State Representative, and Ashley Baker, the founder of It’s On Us at ESU.

The organizer was a community member, Julia Rettle, who paid out of pocket for the insurance for the event, which she stated in her GoFundMe was $1,950. At the time of Oct. 30, Rettle reached 89% of her goal, which is $1,100.

Towards the end of the rally, Safe Monroe held the Circle of Witness and Care. In that circle, many survivors of assault told their story. For some, it was the first time they had ever spoken about their assault out loud. It was incredibly emotional, with members of the community comforting each other, lifting each other up.

The Stroud Courier reached out to Kayla Simon, the director of Health and Wellness at ESU, for a comment regarding the matter.

“We have many resources for students who have experienced a sexual assault, stalking, or harassment,” said Simon. “Students can report a rape or assault to the Title IX office as well as discuss issues like intimate partner violence or stalking, and how they want to move forward with a report, whether that’s talking to someone and getting support, or making a report to Student Conduct & Community Standards or the police.”

According to Simon, students can contact the Title IX office by email at titleixreport@esu.edu or call 570-422-2277. The university also offers Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) for students who want to speak to a counselor about a previous assault and how that may be affecting their day-to-day lives. Students can make an appointment by calling 570-422-3277.

For off-campus support, students can contact Safe Monroe. Their 24/7 hotline is 570-421-4200.

For more information of CAPS: ESU Counseling

For more information on Safe Monroe: safemonroe.org