Response counselors often re-enact hotline conversations to develop empathy with the victims they treat. They performed one of these role plays for The Crimson.
"Response, this is Lisa speaking."
"Hi, um, I hope you don't mind me calling. I mean, this isn't like a real crisis or anything."
"That's alright. I'm here if you feel like talking. Is something bothering you?"
"Well, sort of. It's about this guy I was liying across the hall from when I was a freshman."
"Uh-huh. Go on."
"We were sort of friends. I haven't seen him for a while. The last time was at a party towards the end of freshman year. We'd been drinking. I guess I was really smashed or something. It was hot and crowded. He asked me to come outside and get some air. We went to his room. I don't know...I guess we had sex. I didn't really want it. I mean it wasn't violent or anything, but I didn't want it."
"Tell me what happened."
"He started coming on to me. I said no, but he just didn't listen. Nothing I said got through to him. It was like I didn't matter."
"How did you feel?"
"I was okay for a while, but it just wiped me out. I mean, my roommates made jokes about him and me being an item. It was awful."
"How are you now?"
"I saw him today--the first time since--and he stopped and talked about classes. It was like everything was fine."
"Go on."
"I practically ran away from him. He must think I'm crazy. I couldn't talk, and I ran away and started crying. I felt sick, physically sick. I feel sick now. Oh, this seems so stupid."
Read more in News
Counseling Groups Form Committee, Prepare NewsletterRecommended Articles
-
Sympathy StrikesThis column is dedicated to Erin Conroy. It started with a scratchy feeling at the back of my throat. Then
-
Straying From the PathW hen I was accepted to Harvard, everyone I told had the same response: "Wow! You got into Harvard?" I
-
'68 Alums Reflect on the Years Since Their CommencementThe women's movement hadn't come along yet so we didn't know what to call it, but we knew back then
-
To the Man Who Left Me AloneI DON'T know your name, but I write this to you. Last night at about 2 a.m., I was walking
-
THE CRIMETHE DIARY OF A DANGEROUS MAN Nov. 8. I have been meditating for some time a scheme by which I
-
THE WALRUS SAIDAn ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, I've always heard. That's why I wouldn't ordinarily have gone