An anonymous Twitter account claiming to detail Morehouse College students gang raping a Spelman College student is taking Twitter by storm and causing a wider conversation about rape culture.
The @RapedAtSpelman account was published on May 2 and begins with this line: "This is my freshmen year at Spelman and my last year because I decided to leave after what happened to me." It goes on to tell a story about an alleged rape and cover-up by Spelman officials.
The owner of the account said she was gang-raped by a group of students at a party. After reporting the attack to campus security and speaking with school officials, she said she felt like she needed to take her message to Twitter.
Its sad that I have to create a page to express myself rather than tweeting from my real account because AUC students blame & bash victims.
— Raped At Spelman (@RapedAtSpelman) May 2, 2016
The account has nearly 2,000 followers and has sparked a conversation on the platform. Supporters and critics are using #RapedAtSpelman and #RapedByMorehouse to drive the conversation.
Tuesday evening, supporters held a protest. They held signs that read "stand with sisters & brothers", and "end rape culture on college campuses."
Spelman, a private liberal arts women's college, and Morehouse, a men's college, are both historically black institutions in the Atlanta College Union.They've been unofficial brother and sister schools since their founding. In fact, the schools typically pair students with one another to foster relationships on campus, not necessarily romantic.
Spelman President Mary Campbell said in the university is looking into the allegations.
"Our hearts go out to this student and I want to personally offer her our full support and assistance. We are a family at Spelman and we will not tolerate any episode of sexual violence. No student should ever have to suffer and endure the experience she has recounted on social media. Spelman is conducting a full and thorough review of these events,” a statement read.
President Campbell also reached out to the Twitter account asking the owner to identify herself so that she can offer her "full support and assistance."
Our hearts go out to you @RapedAtSpelman. Please identify yourself to me, so that I may offer you my full support and assistance.
— Mary S. Campbell (@SpelmanPres) May 3, 2016
In a statement posted to Morehouse's website, Executive Director of Strategic Communications Cathy Tyler said, "at this time Morehouse is in the posture of listening and investigating any alleged misconduct that has been brought to our attention." Read the full statement, here.
Atlanta police tell 11Alive's Blayne Alexander they are currently not investigating any sexual assaults on Spelman or Morehouse campuses. A spokesman for the department said a victim has not come forward to report an assault or file a police report
The campus later released the following statement regarding the comments made on the Twitter account and progress being made on Title IX issues at the school.
Hours later, Morehouse also released a statement.
In 2015, Spelman and Morehouse were under investigation by the U.S. Department of Education for allegedly violating a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. The investigation was spurred by complaints of sexual discrimination and harassment.
This is not the first time the country is hearing about rape culture between Spelman and Morehouse students. BuzzFeed editor Anita Badejo took an in-depth look at the brother/sister relationship between the schools and how that affects sexual violence.
@RapedAtSpelman ends her story with "You can never say Morehouse has their sister's back if they are just going to force her on it."
