Saturday, September 22, 2007

Baby Jesus?

There was a very interesting gentlemen who was on our flight back to Tampa yesterday. And when I say interesting, I mean, strange, very strange. He climbed even higher on the marks of the eccentric meter when we noticed his carry-on-case (pictured below) which had a tag that read: "Manger." My mind began to wander... is this man a member of some kind of baby Jesus road show? Is he a nativity salesperson getting ready for for the upcoming holiday season? Or is he in fact a proud manager (clearly not very keen on spelling errors) who has an assistant that's playing a little trick on him?

It will remain a mystery since we did not get any clues while listening to the conversation between he and his travel companion. At the very least, the random tag made for great conversation on the tram ride to the baggage claim. An interesting little ending to another great week for us!

Friday, September 21, 2007

Mike & Juliet Morning Show

We were honored to be guests on the Morning Show with Mike & Juliet and thrilled that Fox addressed the issue of sexual assault on campus. Check out the segment on YouTube that's so good, we had to divide it into two parts. Follow the links below to take a peek at us on the show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NLqs1eXBenQ UNO


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwonEDVT5k DOS



Becca, Liz & Kelly in the greenroom after the show. Liz is one of the super talented producers of the show and she just so happens to be one of our new best friends! We love the Liz.



Christian, Dr. Lipkins, Liz and Becca

Greenroom Goodness

So while we’re in the super cool and comfy greenroom at the Fox studios in NYC we got a chance to meet Kris Carr who is perhaps one of the coolest and most empowering chics to ever grace the earth. Seriously, she is absolutely amazing. She is a warm and beautiful soul with a bright spirit bursting with hope and inspiration! Below is some info from her web-site, which by the way, you should totally check out! http://www.crazysexycancer.com/

Crazy Sexy Cancer is an irreverent and uplifting documentary about a young woman looking for a cure and finding her life. In 2003, 31-year-old actress/photographer Kris Carr was diagnosed with a rare and incurable cancer. Weeks later she began filming her story. Taking a seemingly tragic situation and turning it into a creative expression, Kris shares her inspirational story of survival with courage, strength, and lots of humor.
With experimental treatment as her only option, Kris became determined to find answers where there were none. She traveled throughout the country interviewing experts in alternative medicine as she tenaciously dove head first into a fascinating and often hilarious holistic world. Along the way, she met other vivacious young women determined to become survivors. Their stories are as poignant and exciting as the women who tell them. As Kris's amazing journey unfolds, she realizes that healing is about truly living rather than fighting.

Totally in awe,
Kelly (and Becca)

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

Who is watching you?

So it appears we are on a blogging bender. But I think this piece goes to show how much power we all have in shaping the future. It resonates with the belief that we can change the world, if we are willing to try. Let us know your thoughts.

Always-

Becca

Daterape Drugs Story featured on Dateline

The following is a portion of the Dateline episode- "Watch
Your Back." We were asked to share our story, expertise and most importantly some key safety tips. Please view and share.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Women With Purpose


The greatest joys in our job are the e-mails from survivors who say we helped them. The connection with a student empowered to change the culture on their campus. The dedicated campus professional who allows us to work with their student populations in the hopes of keeping them safe and strong.

But every once and awhile a sweet surprise comes along.

This month we are featured as a Leadership Institutes's "Women of Purpose". It is such an honor to be placed among pioneers and activists. All these amazing women we admire.

If you are not familiar with the work The Leadership Institute is doing...PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE check them out.

If you would like to take a peek at our feature follow this link.
http://www.theleadershipinstitute-wwp.org/digest/default.aspx?Topic=Domestic%20Violence

WSU student arrested for break-ins

WSU student arrested for sorority break-ins

The Daily Evergreen (Washington State University)

Reports September 17, 2007

Pullman Police said they have one suspect in custody after a woman woke up to two men sexually assaulting her early Thursday morning. WSU student Kyle M. Schott, 23, was arrested early this afternoon. He is facing one count of first degree rape, one count of burglary in the first degree, two counts of residential burglary and one count of attempted burglary, according to a Pullman Police news release. Police are actively pursuing leads to identify two other suspects in the string of burglaries Thursday morning. A woman in her early 20s was asleep in the Kappa Alpha Theta sorority on Monroe Street at about 4:30 a.m. when two men reportedly entered the house and began assaulting her. Pullman Police Cmdr. Chris Tennant said it was sexual assault but didn’t involve intercourse, and the men fled when the woman woke up.

Tennant said the woman was not a Kappa Alpha Theta member, and was sleeping in a individual room while sorority members slept on sleeping porches. The men are also suspects in break-ins at Delta Gamma and Pi Beta Phi sororities at about the same time frame.

There was no sign of forced entry at Kappa Alpha Theta, and Tennant said he thought they may have used the fire escape to enter. It appears to be a random attack, he said.
Police Sgt. Sam Sorem said Thursday evening that residents near Delta Gamma and Pi Beta Phi on Lynden Street gave descriptions of the two men who reportedly broke into the houses. “We’ve had some very commendable citizen involvement from people who live in that area,” Sorem said.

Alpha Gamma Rho President Ryan Lantz and fraternity member Branden Rainer saw the two suspects Wednesday evening, Lantz said. When they heard about the assault the next day, they were frustrated that they hadn't done anything. Rainer thought he recognized one of the suspects as a friend of a friend, so they began investigating on their own, Lantz said. They talked to owners of The Coug and Valhalla and determined the suspect was from the area. Using Facebook, Lantz and Rainer were able to find a picture of Schott who they recognized from Wednesday night. They turned over their information to the police.
"It's something we feel pretty good about," Lantz said.

The first call to the police about the assault came in at 4:48 a.m., initially reported as an attempted rape. The woman was taken to Pullman Regional Hospital. Police collected DNA evidence from the scene, Sorem said.

The second suspect is described as around six feet tall with a muscular build and short blond hair, according to a Pullman Police news release. He is said to have a tattoo of a solid triangle on the back of his neck and an ammunition belt around his right thigh. Police believe there may also have been a third subject involved, who stood guard outside the houses.

As a result of the break-ins, the Greek community is focusing more on safety. Anita Cory, the director of the Center for Fraternity and Sorority Life, sent an e-mail to leaders of Greek houses on Thursday encouraging members to contact the police if there are any suspicious intruders or issues. She also warned that if any organization has participated in “pranks” that involve break-ins, the police will pursue the activity as a real crime.

“No matter the believed situation, we expect and encourage you to contact the Pullman Police Department with any suspicious intruders, issues, etc.,” Cory wrote. “If there is a pattern, the PPD will be best able to identify it quickly and allow you to keep your members and your facility safe.” Cory did not respond to a message left on her office phone Thursday afternoon.
Sorority presidents will meet next Wednesday to discuss safety at their houses, a result of the early morning break-ins, Panhellenic spokeswoman Britni Freiboth said.
“Hopefully what they’re going to do is just use each other’s ideas and make each other safer,” she said.

Sororities and fraternities are among the safest places to live in Pullman, Freiboth said.
Fraternities will also meet sometime soon to see how they could help sororities be safer on the hill, Interfraternity Council spokesman Taylor Worth said. “We will meet to see how the boys can help out,” he said. But immediately, Tennant said residents should take a few minutes to make sure they are secure in their homes. Also, if things look suspicious, do not be afraid to contact the police.

“We encourage people to call in suspicious people and suspicious activity,” he said. “A lot of time people don’t call in stuff because they think we’re busy and we don’t care ... but honestly that’s how we solve a lot of crimes.”

Monday, September 10, 2007

Coming Home


Striking a pose with our AGD sisters at UWF

We had the honor of speaking at our Alma Mater tonight, the University of West Florida. It's always nice to "come home" and it was an amazing feeling to present a program at the very place where it all began years ago. The opportunities that we stumbled upon in college are what inspired us to do this work. So tonight's program was especially touching for us both. It's hard to believe that this much time has passed. Sometimes it feels like if you close your eyes for too long, you might miss something that life has to offer. We had our eyes and hearts wide open tonight and really took in all of the emotions of the evening.
I am so proud to be an activist and thrilled to be living my dream of empowering students, but tonight, I feel like the best part of it all is to be doing this work with the most loving and supportive friend in the world. A woman who helped give me the strength to become a survivor. Thanks Bec! Being back at UWF brought many feelings back, some good, some bad, but mostly a sense of pride.
Thanks to our Alpha Gam sisters who were the most wonderful hostesses ever, of course! And a special thanks to sister Jennifer a.k.a. J-Mo, who went out of her way to make us feel super special. She even pimped out our green room! Much love to you J-Mo.
Kelly