SMU students march across campus last night in the Take Back the Night event to raise awareness against sexual abuse Monday evening. (REBECCA HANNA/ The Daily Campus)

Sam was eight years old when he was sexually assaulted—when a single ordeal deeply marked the fabric of his life.

His abuser was not a menacing stranger, nor was he an unknown predator; his abuser was an older cousin, someone whom he thought of as a close friend.    

“I thought he was like the coolest guy, he was like my biggest role model,” Sam said, his vulnerability apparent as he looked out into the audience.

Approximately 100 people gathered in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Varsity for the Women’s Interest Network’s “Take Back the Night,” on Monday.

The event was designed to empower men and women to reclaim the night and conquer their fear of walking alone in the dark.

Attendees took part in a march around the Boulevard and recited chants which protested sexual violence. A candle light vigil was held at the end of the march.

During the scheduled “speak out,” survivors and friends of survivors shared their personal stories of sexual assault.

Unexpectedly, Sam, who preferred to not use his last name, decided to share his story as well. 

Excited for his cousin to sleepover, he couldn’t wait to watch TV and spend the entire night laughing like they had done many times before. Sam was confused when he was suddenly awoken.

“I never had a concept of what was going on; it didn’t register. I had nothing to relate it to,” he said.

That night Sam was assaulted and sodomized.

“I remember the strangeness of it all….I didn’t know how to connect any concepts… [so] it just seemed perfectly natural. I was just so naïve,” he said.

At one point, his mom knocked on the door to check up on them. “I felt so alone because there was my mom, and I couldn’t really speak, I didn’t know what to say,” Sam said.

Once his mom left, his cousin assaulted him for a second time.

After the assault, Sam isolated himself and focused his energies on school.

“I really did lose myself…being part of this whole experience…I kind of quickly realized that it happened. It sucked, but it makes no sense for me to continue beating myself up for it,” he said. “I really have started to become stronger. I have started to regain my voice.”

Unfortunately, Sam’s story is far from rare. According to the Texas Association Against Sexual Assault, more than 226,000 children and 104,000 adults are raped every year in Texas. About 60 percent of rape victims are under the age of 18.

SMU freshman Melissa Maguire related what she endured from her ex-boyfriend to abuse.

“We dated for eight months. The first two months were great, and the six months following; not so great,” she said to the room full of strangers.

“Having been a very awkward person, I was very surprised that someone would appreciate my personality and also appreciate my body. Appreciation turned into abuse,” she said.

 Not knowing where to go to seek help, Maguire dealt with much of the pain on her own. At the time, she failed to grasp her situation as one of abuse, but has now gained the confidence that once eluded her.

“I am proud to say that since then I have learned to reestablish myself as an independent individual. I’m not afraid to share this story with people,” she said. “I’m proud to say that I’m here to take back my dignity, and take back my self-respect, and take back a little part of myself that I thought I gave to someone, and that he always kept.”

Victims of sexual assault can call Dr. Cathy Soutter, SMU coordinator of Psychological Services for Women, for confidential counseling and information. Parkland Hospital and Presbyterian Hospital are the only medical facilities in Dallas County that provide sexual assault evidence kits. The SMU Police Department will meet victims at any location and provide transportation to these facilities.