On Wednesday, April 16, Winona State University welcomed author, speaker, nurse, and rape survivor Danielle Leukam to campus. She presented on her own story as well as how her experience with sexual violence has ultimately allowed her to grow as a person. She shared with the audience how she has found a way to move forward after this traumatic event and what her life is like now in the aftermath of the violence waged against her.
Leukam’s presentation began as many people expected in the audience with talk on the importance of speaking up to end sexual violence. However, she soon delved into her own story. She expands further and talks about how she was raped in her own home in 2018.
She revealed many vulnerable and personal details about this experience, describing the utter fear and helplessness she felt. The audience appeared captivated and moved by Leukam’s poise and resilience in the face of such a tragedy.
April, the month of sexual assault awareness, is a fitting time to hear Leukam’s story and message to become more educated on how to help and empower survivors of sexual violence to take the necessary steps to move toward healing while learning to live with trauma.
Unfortunately, it is common for some victims of sexual violence to feel afraid to come forward to healthcare professionals or law enforcement because they feel threatened by their abuser and fear what will happen if they share their story.
Greater education not only on the importance of seeking help but also on the various confidential advocacy programs available to people in this kind of situation is necessary to ensure that victims of sexual violence can find the help they need. A student can reach out to a campus advocate by calling 507-452-4440 during business hours, visiting Gildemeister 101, or emailing [email protected]. A 24/7 hotline from Advocacy Center of Winona is also available for anyone at the number (507) 452-4453.
In the wake of Leukam’s trauma, she found a healthy coping mechanism in writing. She would journal her thoughts throughout the investigation and jury processes, often writing in the middle of the night while she suffered months of insomnia. When her rapist was put behind bars, she turned her journal entries into a memoir entitled Four Pounds of Pressure.
“I’ve always wanted to be a writer, and it’s just unfortunate that it took almost dying for me to honor that part of myself,” Leukam said. “I’ve known since I was five years old that I love to write, but I was doing everything by the book…but now, after surviving something like this, life is so beautiful, and colors are more vibrant, and the roses smell better, and every opportunity that’s put in front of me I’m willing to take—because survival is beautiful.”
Since her first memoir, Leukam has wrote five more books, including another memoir with more details and evidence from the investigation, two children’s books, a mystery novel, and is soon to release a book of interviews she conducted with sexual violence survivors. She is a mother to two and now works from home, also speaking publicly about her experience with sexual violence and writing books to inspire and connect with others.
The talk was highly attended by students in criminal justice or ethics classes like second-year student and criminal justice and psychology major Makayla Steger.
“I came [to the talk] because I thought it would give me a good perspective on the victim, because I am going to be a police officer,” Steger said. “I want to know what they go through and really hear it from them…I can carry compassion with me and really make them feel seen and heard.”
Leukam’s biggest piece of advice to those that know people who have experienced sexual violence is that “rather than using toxic positivity, rather than saying something like, ‘Well, at least you didn’t die,’ or ‘At least he’s in prison,’ —just listen, be supportive, and validate that person. What you can do is offer to buy groceries, help with their kids, or take their dog on a walk.”
If a student would like to make a Title IX report they can contact Winona State’s Title IX Coordinator by visiting Somsen 211, emailing [email protected], or calling (507) 452-4453. Above all, Leukam stresses the importance of believing instead of blaming the victim to help them move forward, not to be defined by the evil things others have done to them
