https://www.facebook.com/donald.v.watkins/posts/10214188990300875
Auburn University's Nicole Finley Has Earned My Respect
Posted: September 19, 2017 11:20 p.m. CST
Nicole Finley is a senior at Auburn University who ran for Miss Homecoming this year. While she did not win the title last Friday, Ms. Finley has emerged as a leader in sexual violence awareness and prevention on Auburn University's campus. Her Freedom With Finley videos are iconic.
When you watch the short video below you will understand why I have such an enormous amount of respect for Ms. Finley and the positive way she has championed sexual violence awareness and prevention.
Auburn University profiled Ms. Finley and her platform as follows:
"My platform is something that many shy away from discussing or even simply recognizing. For the majority of my life, I had done the same. Sexual assault can take an immeasurable toll on a victim's physical and mental health. The emotional and physical scars of an assault can deeply impact a student's ability to cope with elements of everyday life. The statistics alone should bear enough weight to spark an incentive for change; one out of every four female undergraduates will be victim to some form of sexual assault before graduation. And the vast plurality of assaults go both unreported and unpunished, with more than 70% of victims never informing police."
"These numbers are disheartening, to articulate in the very least, but what also carries disappointment is the notion that many will have the perspective of just that – they're only numbers. Well, I am a number. Your best friend might be a number. Your girlfriend. Your sister. You. And numbers 100, 500, 700 might not all be women – sexual assault crosses all barriers. The crucial understanding that Auburn men and women need to have is that sexual violence generally ISN'T a stranger with a weapon in a dark alley; we need to acknowledge that this is happening all around us to people we know by people we know. Following this realization will be a sense of urgency to change our culture and approach toward sexual violence prevention."
"This is why I am seeking to build awareness; the more we, as individuals and as a family, recognize that sexual assault is a concern on our campus, the weaker its stronghold becomes. I have a vision in mind that there will be a day when volume won't be lowered accompanying the term "sexual violence" in conversation."
"Much of the narrative around sexual assault is either focused on warning potential perpetrators or risk reduction for potential victims. However, the Green Dot Program turns focus to the bystander, the third party in any circumstance. By mobilizing the bystander to take action and intervene in a potentially harmful situation, it's possible to change or even prevent the outcome of violence. To generate widespread comprehension and training of this approach has the potential to equip Auburn students with the knowledge and bravery to thwart assault across our campus. Understanding each of us has the power to create "green dots" on our campus map can be instrumental in changing our campus culture."
"I am leveraging my voice to help establish freedom for this Auburn family – freedom to acknowledge sexual violence is a real and present problem on our campus, freedom to believe those who have been impacted, and freedom to protect those around us from experiencing this. Auburn's community dynamic has the capacity to encourage victims to seek guidance and comfort, and championing a culture that supports this healing process can make an everlasting difference in the lives of those afflicted."
Ms. Finley represents the type of leadership, vision, and courage we need in public office today. She is a very gifted and talented student whose mark on society in the coming years will be felt and remembered for a long time.
I am asking my 5,000 Facebook "Friends" and 17,950 "Followers" to join me in saluting Ms. Nicole Finley for renewing our faith in the power of positive change.
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