NWLB: The History

Hello, and welcome to the website that can help YOU end campus sexual violence. We know, we know, doesn't that sound a tad ambitious? Well, we like to reach for the stars.

We are the No Woman Left Behind campaign at Oregon State University, a movement dedicated to ending campus sexual assault. As you'll see from our "About Us" section, one in four women (1 in 4) will be sexually assaulted in their time on college campuses. We think this number is much too high, so we're going to do everything we can to educate our community and surrounding communities about this horrific statistic.

It starts with you. Come into the OSU Women's Center -- located in the little blue house next to the library -- and buy a glow-in-the-dark NWLB bracelet. They're only $1 and our goal is to see them all over campus. Don't live in Corvallis and want some bracelets sent to you? Email us at NoWomanLeftBehind.OSU@gmail.com and we'll get you taken care of.

NWLB was first started at Sacramento State University when students there heard about a disturbing instance that took place at a party. The idea for No Woman Left Behind started in the summer of 2007 after reading about the De Anza college rape case. Several members of the De Anza college baseball team allegedly assaulted a young girl at a party. Three women from the De Anza soccer team -- Lauren Chief Elk, April Grolle and Lauren Breayans -- intervened, fighting off the players, and brought the girl to the hospital for treatment. No one at the party of more than 50 people offered to help.

It is both shocking and saddening to hear that not only did a house full of people ignore a young, drunk woman locked in a room with many males, but that when it was clear there was a sexual assault situation going on and three women intervened, the entire party still ignored the situation and gave no assistance. One woman told a reporter after the party that she did not think of the situation as a "rape case." This is part of the problem.

Sac State created the bandwagon first, distributing bracelets and bringing the three women to campus to speak. Oregon State got involved with NWLB when a Women's Center staff member met Lauren Chief Elk in the summer of 2008 at OSU student orientation. Now we at OSU are committed to partnering with schools across the nation to make this a huge campaign.

We'll use this site as our official kick-off point to let you know what the latest events are with NWLB (we've got some big plans, let us tell you) and what you can do to help. In the meantime, get caught up with our cause by reading about what happened afterward to the three women who intervened, including the ill after-effects. They displayed a courage shown by few and for that, we are all fortunate to know them. Now let's share their story.