Date rape is when two people are seeing each other in a dating situation and one person forces the other into sex. The force could be threatening to hurt her, holding her down or through physical violence. A survey at the University of South Dakota found that 20.6% (or one out of five) female students had experienced date rape. It is more common for a girl to be raped by someone she knows than by a stranger.

Rape is a crime - a crime of violence. Passion, lust or sex are not the motives for rape. Rage and hostility are the motives and the rapist uses force and/or threats to overpower, dominate and control the victim.

Rape happens to children, adolescents and adults. Rape has no social, economic, racial or religious barriers. It can happen to anybody. If you have been a victim of rape, you need to know that it was not your fault that you were raped. Regardless of what you did or did not do - the way you dress, abuse of alcohol, walking or jogging alone, not locking your door, etc. NOTHING excuses the rapist.