The audience fell quiet as Jeslyn Lewis told her story about ending her abusive relationship that lasted a little over ten years.

Jeslyn Lewis of the Family Justice Center spoke after her poem “The One” was read.

Lewis is a survivor of sexual abuse and domestic violence. Her first marriage ended after she suffered from both sexual and verbal abuse and went through a period of time in which she was barely able to leave her own home.

After dating and marrying someone new, Lewis began to suffer from domestic violence again.

Lewis said she didn’t report the abuse because she didn’t want to embarrass her children.

“I wanted to keep them safe because I felt like I had already robbed them of so much,” Lewis said.

Lewis’ husband left her with bruises and black eyes that made teachers, coworkers and other whisper behind her back.

She said that she was once not allowed into a building where she worked because of her appearance.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. hosted a sexual abuse and self defense seminar.

The seminar was held to inform students on the effects, signs and statistics of sexual abuse and to give demonstrations of how one could protect them self in violent situations.

Two students explained the meaning of sexual assault, date rape and sexual consent.

Members also discussed date rape drugs and other technicalities.

Ashanti Richardson, a senior social science major, said that many abuse victims feel trapped, like Lewis did.

“Many victims stay in abusive relationships because they have low self-esteem, (are) scared they are going to get killed and they are embarrassed what other people (are) going to say,” Richardson said.

While answering the audience’s questions, Lewis explained how, years later, she finally reported her husband to the authorities and finally sought help after years of abuse.

Che’Derica Samuel, a senior radiologic technology student said she has seen her friend  hesitate to leave an abusive relationship.

“I tried my best to talk her out of the relationship and lure her from the situation, but you can’t make a person leave…” said Samuel.  “All I could do was be her support system until she was ready to make the decision for herself.”

ULMPD officer, Shaquille Belson, spoke on the different ways officers can help in abusive situations. He said the officers are approachable and there for students’ safety.

The officer and a volunteer also physically demonstrated what to do in the case of an attack.