Jacksonville, Alabama (WLJS) -- WLJS 91.9 FM news anchor Ed Moore III hosted his highly publicized radio special on sexual assault awareness in Jacksonville Thursday afternoon.
He, along with a panel of some of the most influential and powerful people in northeast Alabama, gathered to discuss awareness surrounding rape and sexual assault with professionals that included Calhoun County prosecutors, sexual assault and domestic violence counselors as well as a Jacksonville State University administrator.
The show comes in response to the exclusive interview released last Sunday with Jade Wagner, the SGA president of Jacksonville State University who opened up to Moore by telling her that a man she knew in his early 20's raped her last June during a summer outing with friends near Lake Logan Martin in St. Clair County.
The panel of professionals gathered Thursday night to discuss not only Wagner's powerful story of survival, but ways to help others who may have gone through the same experience, including sexual assault prevention measures, the criminal consequences of those who choose to rape and where victims can go to get help.
"The past 11 days at Jacksonville State University have been a whirlwind of emotions for many people," Moore released in a statement Thursday night following the program.
"Jade's story has captivated thousands of people throughout the entire region. With the help of such a strong, supportive and resilient university administration, along with the assistance of other leaders from across the area, we were able to hold our heads up high and come together to discuss this very heavy, sensitive and difficult topic."
The guests who appeared on the show were as followed:
Brian A. McVeigh - Calhoun County District Attorney
Jennifer G. Weems - Calhoun County Assistant District Attorney
Dr. Timothy B. King - Associate Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs, Jacksonville State University
Julie Nix - Director of Counseling Services, Jacksonville State University
Susan Shipman - Executive Director of Second Chance Domestic and Sexual Violence Shelter of Anniston
Trace Fleming Smith - Sexual Assault Victims Advocate, Second Chance Domestic and Sexual Violence Shelter of Anniston
Sgt. Carl Preuninger - Lead Investigator, Jacksonville State University Police Department
Here are what some of the guests had to say during the program:
"Nothing a survivor has done warrants them being sexually assaulted," said Fleming-Smith. "Rape is rape and it was never their fault. The more we get that message out, the more it combats the issue of not holding perpetrators responsible for their actions."
"I just want students to feel empowered to talk to somebody and let them know I am available if they need me," said King.
"Educate yourself about what your rights are," said Nix. "Be able to make an informed decision about what you want to do about what happened to you."
"There ought to be an honest discussion to watch out for this sort of behavior. If you watch out for yourself and your friends, you could stop a rape from happening,” said McVeigh.
Moore says the galvanizing efforts of the Jacksonville State University faculty and administration, the DA's office, as well as Second Chance, contributed to the coverage of Wagner's story and efforts for an impactful response to help others.
"Everyone involved with this particular story has been a beacon of support since the day it broke," said Moore. "They surrounded the situation with compassion and responded to it with action that educated and empowered our community. We are all leaders and this is just what we do."
This report was made through WLJS News in Jacksonville, Alabama on 9/27/2013 at 12:34 P.M.
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