“He was older than me. We had gone on a double date with our mutual friends. On the way home, he asked if we could take a different way home than [our friends]. I said ‘you know I’m not comfortable with that,’” Northern Vermont University student, Bryannah Heywood, explained as she shared her story about sexual violence.
April is Sexual Violence Awareness Month, and NVU-Lyndon campus hosted an event on April 19th to remember those who have experienced sexual assault. The event was put on by psychology major Bryannah Heywood, with the help of fellow student Hope Perkins. “It is a personal topic to me, as well as to her. So just caring about the topic, and caring about her. I thought I should come and help,” Perkins explained. Local non-profit Umbrella was also at the event, along with NVU-Lyndon professor Patricia Shine, who had helped coordinate the event.
Heywood got the idea from an online link to “The Rape Museum.” “It displayed all these outfits that survivors were wearing at the time of their attack,” she said. She decided to bring the idea to her professor and asked if they could do something like that on campus. Heywood and Perkins decided to have the event in the Moore Community Room, from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Perkins helped conduct a small survey online for those who wanted to share their stories. People sent in clothes or gave a description of what they were wearing at the time of the attack. The ladies hung up clothes all around the room to show what these outfits would have looked like. Next to the clothes was a description of what happened to the person that had worn them. There were also pictures of outfits with their stories on round tables all around the room. This topic is close to Heywood’s heart because she experienced an attack of her own.
Her attacker brought her to a remote area in the woods and parked his car. “He told me to give him a kiss.” Heywood expressed she did not want to, and eventually, he led her out of the vehicle. “I remember at that moment thinking back to all the ID shows I used to watch with my mom. Like, if he lets you see his face, and he takes you to a secondary location, that’s when it’s time to fight.” Unfortunately, Heywood did not think it was in her best interest to run away from him, considering it was dark and she had no idea where she was. There was also a body of water nearby. “He started groping me on the outside of my clothes. I kept pushing his hands away. I said, ‘no, no,’ but of course, he did not stop.”
Heywood was taken out to the woods where she found herself against a tree. She said he began to kiss her in places she did not want to be kissed. The experience felt like forever, but finally, an old man pulled into the remote area and walked over to them. Her attacker then took her home, and Heywood never went on another date with him again. She was wearing a blue sweatshirt, jeans, and leather boots at the time.
Many others shared their stories as well. One story called “Bohemian Skirt and Top” read, “A bohemian skirt and top. Nothing fancy. I’d worn that outfit a dozen times before. I always thought I was safe because I didn’t wear ‘those’ kinds of clothes. I guess my rapist didn’t get the memo.” Another story titled “A Cute Mini Dress” read, “I loved it (the dress) the moment I saw it. I had some killer heels too. I just wanted to have a good night, look cute, and hang with my sisters. He kept getting me shots, over and over again. The next thing I remember is crawling around the floor looking for that stupid dress.”
Heywood said she put on this event to spread awareness, and to let other victims know they are not alone. If anyone in the Northeast Kingdom is looking for help with a sexual assault claim, they can reach out to Umbrella in St. Johnsbury at (802)748-8645. If there are students on the Lyndon campus that have a report to make, they can contact Denise Moses at denise.moses@northernvermont.edu.
Feature Photo by Hailey Morgan || One outfit included a simple orange t-shirt and jeans. The description read, ” I missed a couple days of work after it happened. When I told my boss, she asked me this question (what were you wearing?). I said: ‘A t-shirt and jeans b*tch–what do you wear to a basketball game?’ I walked out and never came back.”