The Hilltop - Campus
Issue: 01/16/04
http://www.thehilltoponline.com/news...s-582199.shtml
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A Day in the Life...Amanda Lewis
By Alison Brock
In the midst of friends and food, music blasting and students having a genuinely good time, an incident took place on the campus of Florida State University that would transform the life of a Howard University scholar forever. It was a party like any other. Hosted at her friend's house, a group of mutual associates had convened for a typical night of college merriment. What began as a regular house party soon became a tragic evening for Amanda Lewis.
"The graphic details are difficult to discuss," said Lewis, a junior general history and vocal classical performance double major. "It's not hard for me to admit what happened, but it is difficult for me to describe it."
A nameless gentleman, who had expressed a romantic interest in Lewis, which evolved into little more than a platonic friendship, was hosting a house party one fall evening to celebrate the birthdays of two mutual friends. After partying and consuming alcohol , Lewis found herself alone with her then friend, and was thereafter sexually assaulted.
After some internal contemplation, Lewis realized that she had to tell someone about the incident and be proactive about handling the situation.
"I had to admit the situation to people. A friend of mine called the victim's advocate program on campus and after that I started getting counseling," Lewis said.
A student at Florida State, Lewis would soon transfer to Howard University due to this situation, coupled with other difficulties Lewis had encountered with FSU administration.
"It took a year out of my life, just rebuilding up to the point where I could go to Howard," said Lewis, "which is why I'm a twenty-two year old junior," she laughed.
After admitting that an assault had taken place, attending counseling sessions and experiencing mild anxiety attacks whenever seeing someone that resembled her assaulter, Lewis found it imperative to press charges. This decision, however, created more problems.
"It was hard because we had a lot of mutual friends, and all of us had been drinking at the party," Lewis said. "Some people questioned my motives and the reasons behind me pressing charges."
These difficulties did not deter Lewis. The perpetrator is currently on probation and is forbidden to leave the state of Florida. "I want to stay as far away from him as possible," Lewis said.
While some may have preferred to keep the incident under wraps, Lewis has found strength in speaking out about the topic and helping other young women that are victims of sexual assault. As Miss College of Arts and Sciences 2003, Lewis ran and won on the platform "HUVOV: Howard University Voice of the Victim." And though she did not win the title of "Miss Howard," Lewis is sticking with her platform and ensuring the success of its development.
"Part of my platform was to have speak-outs and forums, and that's what I've been doing," Lewis said. She has made appearances at HUSA programs on campus among others. "The counseling center had been trying to get a grant from the Women's Crisis Center, but was turned down. What I want to do is less expensive, so I will be able to receive financial support."
Lewis hopes to create a center on campus specifically for rape victims and other victims of sexual assault and harassment. However, Lewis understands that rape is a crime that takes place on all college campuses.
"Women sometimes don't report rape cases because it's such a specialized crime and women sometimes feel at fault," claims Lewis. "It has a lot to do with hearsay and causes victims to face a lot of personal questions and feel a sense of self-doubt." Regardless, Lewis says that there is absolutely nothing a woman can ever do that is justified provocation of rape. No matter what a woman wears, drinks or says, rape is a crime.
"Talking about my platform, and just helping other women had brought me a lot closer to healing," Lewis said. "I know that when some people look at me, they just see me as 'the girl that got raped', but it forces them to deal with it and understand that it is a crime that takes place all around us," Lewis insisted.
The healing process has been a challenging but rewarding process for Lewis. Some of her crowning achievements as Miss Beta Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc, and Miss College of Arts and Sciences have been obtained based on platforms of rape awareness and prevention among college women. As a member of Ubiquity, NSAA Dance Ensemble, and a myriad of other organizations on and off campus, Lewis has learned to overcome the obstacles that have come her way.
Not only is Lewis an activist in terms of counseling and conferencing with rape victims, but she is a leader in the realm of rape prevention, and an example of gaining new livelihood after a life-altering experience. Lewis has not let her experience get the best of her; instead she has made the most out of it. She gives this advice to students through platforms and personal interactions, "You have setbacks, but you can still make something of your life." Lewis is living proof.
Protect yourselves sisters and brothers
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