Katie Koestner, national date rape prevention activist, wove descriptions of her own experience of being raped in her first year at William and Mary College throughout her speech to men and women assembled last night in Emerson Hall for Take Back The Night (TBTN) week.

Her speech was the cornerstone of week's programs to raise awareness about women's rights, sponsored by the Radcliffe Union of Students.

Koestner urged Harvard students who have been raped to speak out and others, especially men, to denounce rape.

Since her appearance on the cover of Time Magazine in June 1991, Koestner has appeared on television programs such as the "Oprah Winfrey Show," "Good Morning America" and "NBC Nightly News." Koestner has told her story and discussed "the crime of silence" at over 600 institutions.

She called on Harvard students to fight for a day without rape--citing a figure that in the United States, 1.3 women are raped every minute.

"Don't wait," Koestner said. "You're the best and the brightest. You're the leaders from the get-go. If anyone can make a difference, it's you."

Koestner, at times through tears, emphasized that rape happens everywhere, even at Harvard.

"I don't think it matters how smart the rapist is," she said. "In fact, the smarter the rapist is, the better to get away with it."