Madison Smith

We actually all had to drive separately because my dad had to go to work and I had school. So we were all in separate cars, actually. And I was on my way back home and I said, well, that's that, I guess. He got away with it. That sucks. And I was already in therapy at this point. My mom had me in therapy by... It was on Valentine's Day. I had my first therapy appointment.

We actually all had to drive separately because my dad had to go to work and I had school. So we were all in separate cars, actually. And I was on my way back home and I said, well, that's that, I guess. He got away with it. That sucks. And I was already in therapy at this point. My mom had me in therapy by... It was on Valentine's Day. I had my first therapy appointment.

So I was like, I'll just continue with therapy and see what happens.

So I was like, I'll just continue with therapy and see what happens.

I was scared because having to tell over 300 strangers because I needed their support about what happened to me seemed so scary.

I was scared because having to tell over 300 strangers because I needed their support about what happened to me seemed so scary.

So at that point, I was like, all right, let's collect these signatures. Let's do this.

So at that point, I was like, all right, let's collect these signatures. Let's do this.

So we set up in front of a hair salon in Lindsberg. And to make things harder for us, it was in the middle of COVID. It was 2020. So we hosted a BYOP, bring your own pen, event. But we also had pens and we're sanitizing them in between everything and wearing masks and the whole nine yards and everything.

So we set up in front of a hair salon in Lindsberg. And to make things harder for us, it was in the middle of COVID. It was 2020. So we hosted a BYOP, bring your own pen, event. But we also had pens and we're sanitizing them in between everything and wearing masks and the whole nine yards and everything.

and made ridiculous signs, and we had a ladder that was stood up and had balloons all over it and streamers, just something to attract people's attention, really, is what it is.

and made ridiculous signs, and we had a ladder that was stood up and had balloons all over it and streamers, just something to attract people's attention, really, is what it is.

And I'd say, hi, my name is Madison Smith. I was raped at Bethany College campus. And the county attorney said, and they said, say no more. Where do I sign? Like, that was so encouraging and just so amazing to have complete strangers just support you at, I don't know, what was that, 10 words, 15 words I said? And they're like, say no more.

And I'd say, hi, my name is Madison Smith. I was raped at Bethany College campus. And the county attorney said, and they said, say no more. Where do I sign? Like, that was so encouraging and just so amazing to have complete strangers just support you at, I don't know, what was that, 10 words, 15 words I said? And they're like, say no more.

I don't want to say it got easier, but I became numb. Like I almost became a robot at that point. Like, hi, my name is Madison and this is what happened to me. Will you please sign my petition so I can get this? That's kind of how it felt like it went for a little while.

I don't want to say it got easier, but I became numb. Like I almost became a robot at that point. Like, hi, my name is Madison and this is what happened to me. Will you please sign my petition so I can get this? That's kind of how it felt like it went for a little while.

It was so defeating to know that we worked so hard to collect over 300 signatures of registered voters in our county, and it got denied. It was so defeating because I was like, we did all that work for nothing. Nothing. It was awful.

It was so defeating to know that we worked so hard to collect over 300 signatures of registered voters in our county, and it got denied. It was so defeating because I was like, we did all that work for nothing. Nothing. It was awful.

There were, I mean, multiple times throughout all of this, there were multiple times where I was just, I'm ready to be done. I'm ready to be human again. And not feel like I am a rape survivor and that was my personality. Because at some points that is what it felt like.

There were, I mean, multiple times throughout all of this, there were multiple times where I was just, I'm ready to be done. I'm ready to be human again. And not feel like I am a rape survivor and that was my personality. Because at some points that is what it felt like.