As I sat on the sidewalk outside the Tyler Hanes Commons where University of Richmond's annual sexual violence event, It Ends Now, was held, I was approached by a local ABC Channel 8 news reporter. He asked my friends and I to participate in an interview in response to the outrage students were feeling as they stormed out of the event. Still infuriated with the administration's handling of the situation, we said no and continued, in our desperately confused state, to process what had just happened, what was happening, and what would happen.

University of Richmond's "It Ends Now" project is an initiative to take a visible stand against sexual and domestic violence. Its program description claims it "brings students, faculty, staff, and senior administrators together to show solidarity against violence in relationships."

However, on September 8, 2016, at UR's It Ends Now: A Culture of Shared Responsibility event, UR students and administration stood divided.

On Tuesday, September 6, 2016, a UR student and rape victim, CC, released an emotional, honest Huffington Post article discussing her mishandled sexual assault case at UR a year ago. The next day, the UR administration delivered a mass-email, claiming her facts to be "inaccurate." The e-mail ended with a reminder about that the It ends now event, emphasizing it as an opportunity to make a difference through "open dialogue."

As my friends and I continued venting outside of Tyler Haynes Commons, the reporter returned and said he had tried to enter the event but was stopped by administration who said the event was only for UR students and faculty.

Still hesitant to be recorded, I agreed to share what had happened inside the event with the reporter under the circumstance that I would not be documented.

I told him that numerous student leaders gave emotional speeches concerning the rape-culture on campus, followed by faculty members and a local Safe Harbor representative who shared available resources on and off campus. I said audience members certainly resonated with these individuals' messages of empathy and concern, but it wasn't long before hopeful feelings dissipated.

Dean Boehman attempted to end the event by saying further discussion with administration could be held in private upstairs. He was in for a rude awakening as angry alumni and students stood up, passionately vocalizing the event was in no way an "open dialogue," but a mere monologue.

Nick Biffis, class of 2019, exclaimed from the crowd, "We don't need privacy... Why are you trying to hide it." His peers applauded and cheered in agreement that such a calamity is a public issue which deserves public attention and discussion.

Another female student proclaimed from the back of the room, "Sir, he admitted to raping her. CC's rapist admitted to raping her... and he plays football for us."

As I shared these comments with the reporter, he seemed taken back. He shifted his weight, rubbed his hands against his face and expressed his frustrations too.

In that moment, I had a choice.

I could choose to silently be upset by the situation or I could choose to be a part of the solution. I initially turned down the request to be interviewed because I did not feel proximate to the issue; I do not know CC personally and there are other students more knowledgable on the issue of sexual assault than myself.

However, after hearing the reporter's solemn words, and seeing the honest empathy which filled his eyes, I realized this issue belongs to us all. It is his. It is mine. It is yours.

As members of a shared community, we are all guilty perpetrators of sexual assault by not speaking up, by not taking action.

I chose to be interviewed. I chose to share what little I could, in my ignorance and knowledge, with the greater Richmond community. I felt hopeful shedding light on an issue which affects each and every one of us, whether directly or indirectly.

I urge you to speak up as well.

A young woman in our community is suffering the traumatizing aftermath of being raped. UR's administration publicly called her a liar, while allowing her rapist to continue his career as a D1 athlete, even after he, on three separate occasions, admitted to raping her.

This is outright wrong.

I encourage you to stand with me as I join the fight for a more transparent administration - one which places more value on the wellbeing of students than the possibility of jeopardizing their reputation; one which treats all students equally, despite their role as a scholar, athlete, or organization leader.

CC is not the only one that has lived this horrific story. It is only through unity that we will be able to change the narrative.

Take the first step in joining the conversation by signing the "Establish a Sexual Assault Response and Prevention Center at University of Richmond" petition.

We are #OneRichmond, let's prove it.