Danielle’s Story

I was 22 and in my first year of a post-undergraduate degree program at the time. I went out to a bar/dance club with a female friend (also in the program) on a Saturday night. My significant other did not come out that night. My friend and I ended up connecting with another group of students in the same program at the bar. I ended up on the very crowded dance floor with one of the male students. I had had several drinks and was dancing and generally having a great time. Then, while I was dancing with my back turned toward the male student, he reached around me without warning and put his hand down the front of my pants and inside my underwear. I immediately pushed his arm away to get his hand out of my pants and continued dancing as if nothing was wrong. I was so embarrassed but felt utterly dirty and helpless. Since then I have felt great shame that I somehow allowed that to happen to me. I also felt extremely guilty, as if I had cheated. It was only about a month ago that I realized this was an assault and told my husband. He was the only person I told.