Mother of date rape victim speaks out

By Hannah Siemers

Andrea Cooper will describe the tragic rape and subsequent suicide of her daughter, turning tragedy into a powerful learning experience for others.

Kristin's Story: A Story of Acquaintance Rape and Depression, sponsored by the SMU Panhellenic Association, will take place at 8 p.m. Monday night in the Hughes-Trigg Student Center Theater.

"It's very powerful," Britta Blomquist said, Panhellenic president. "It is very well done and uplifting."

Cooper is the mother of Kristin Cooper, a Baker University student who committed suicide on New Year's Eve 1995, in her family's home in Littleton, Colo. Baker University is in Baldwin City, Kansas. Her death resulted from the depression that followed being date raped in August 1995. Kristin's Story is a pro-active, co-educational rape education program funded by Alpha Chi Omega and Delta Delta Delta sorority nationals.

Andrea Cooper, a graduate of Florida State University, has given similar presentations to universities and organizations around the country, including the Tri-Delta, Alpha Chi Omega and Sigma Alpha Epsilon national conferences. During the 1998-1999 academic year, Cooper spoke to more than 30 audiences in 15 states.

Jennifer Boulware, coordinator of member development for SMU Panhellenic, saw the narrative last summer at the Alpha Chi Omega National Conference and was impressed. She said the program has received rave reviews from those who attended it.

This past year, Cooper spoke to audiences ranging in size from 65 greek members at Penn State in January to 1,000 Panhellenic members at the University of Iowa in April.

The SMU Panhellenic Association hopes that SMU will have a successful turn out as well. Each sorority is required to send 20 members, and some chapters have made Kristin's Story a mandatory event.

Cooper does not focus on the negative aspects of the rape, instead she looks at what can be learned from Kristin's experience.

Boulware said that Cooper has been a comfort to many girls who have been raped. Many victims found the strength to tell their own stories after being inspired by Kristin's.

Sarah Getman, a member of Alpha Chi Omega, also saw Kristin's Story last summer at the national conference in Indianapolis.

"I expected the story to be a little depressing, just based on the subject. . . but it wasn't . Andrea used humor and a light-hearted tone in the story, and I had a really positive feeling at the end. She was by far one of the best speakers I've ever heard, and the whole story left a powerful impression on everyone that was there." Getman said.

SMU students attending Kristin's Story will receive a participant packet developed by the Santa Monica Rape Treatment Center.