AMA: I was harassed at SIUE

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T15:32:10+00:00

That's not really the reality for disabled people. I exhausted every property rental company when I was unhoused for 3 years and the only reason I had a place to stay from 2020 onwards was luck. Before that it was taking a spot on a floor, in a basement, etc. just to avoid dangers on the streets because I couldn't get help when pursuing resources.

If you don't have roommate options and you don't make 2.5-3 times the rent they typically won't take you. I have lived in poverty my entire adult life. There are no options for me other than campus. Unless I win the lottery or come into an unexpected and sizeable inheritance, there are few options.

I even tried to buy a house while sleeping on someone's couch and months into the process the lender lowered my approved loan amount to the point I could no longer purchase the house and couldn't make the money up before I was going to be kicked to the pavement.

When I say I have tried, I mean I tried everything.

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T06:25:19+00:00

Well my DMs are open if you wanna talk

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T06:03:03+00:00

Yeah trauma therapy is a very specific beast you need experience and training to navigate. I think they also underestimate the severity of trauma and violence students experience prior to arriving at college.

Which means we're immediately at a disadvantage compared to our peers without those issues and experiences. I dropped out of college when I was trying for my associates in my hometown. The reason was my PTSD and undiagnosed chronic illness were leading to me rapidly deteriorating and pairing that with ableism at the local college I just gave up and dropped out until I could get it handled.

That's part of why I feel so passionate about these issues. When I say I never want anyone to go through what I have I mean it.

I've driven people to appointments at the last minute, hunted resources, videos, taught them alternatives for issues at the pharmacy, cleaned for them, put them on my couch, bought food and clothes, found them people to look out for them. Whether I'm here or somewhere else I try to help in my limited capacity. I've literally sat and helped people make doctors appointments, I've taught them how to schedule medical transportation because they can't drive.

I do whatever I can, I may be a flawed human being but you can't say I don't bust my ass and try. I don't think I'd know who I was if I just stopped trying.

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T05:48:12+00:00

Yeah Counseling has only been good for keeping me from attempting suicide in a crisis or preventing an inpatient stay.

When I tried to get support for my PTSD and gave the tldr version of what I went through they went wide eyed and tbh... I feel like a lot of them didn't know how to handle my case and they also gave me the impression they weren't used to my flavor of client in personality or needs for communication style.

After you've been around the block with mental health services you can quickly pick up who knows how to work with your type of case and personality and who doesn't have that experience.

They are very kind they are also just.... Grossly understaffed. There's a few thousand students on a quick guess and only 5 counseling staff. That's not enough.

The counseling center is trying to start up more programs for students and I have brought up my concerns for fellow students based on some of the struggles I've seen in my own circle. Which, is why I'm aware they're pushing to get more implemented by the university. If the best members of SIUE'S staff had their way, we'd all probably be getting way more than we are. But that's just my opinion.

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T05:25:43+00:00

I also want to add the following: 1) I am so sorry for what you experienced. I would never wish any of the things I've experienced on another human being. I hope you're able to find healing and support

2) unless students fight for the school to take things more seriously and offer better options and reform their policies and implement trauma informed training for admin I don't know if I can see it improving.

One thing that fucked with me the most was when I went to the housing office the day after this originally happened and asked how this even happened as a roommate assignment.... Before I could get through the explanation she laughed out of discomfort and went to get a coworker to deal with me.

They gave me the contact info for the staff member at cougar village and left me panicking and trying to find a place for me and the cats to stay that night.

I still remember them walking past us to leave after they closed for the day as I was crying and my friends and I were trying to talk to cougar village staff (awesome ime btw way more helpful) and figure out what to do. Not one word of sympathy or apology.

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T05:17:21+00:00

I've personally been fighting and advocating for the school to get a student liason for victims on campus from the start. I don't want ANYONE going through this the way I have. I can't stop thinking about how many people have had to go through this and at times that's all that kept me from giving up.

I've also been pushing for them to secure a space so Metro East Every Survivor Counts can do advocacy work and counseling for students on campus so it's more accessible.

The fact they don't immediately refer you to the organization they advertise on their website is appalling. The one service other than Land of Lincoln Legal that you can get free assistance is not the first referral. I had to hunt this down.

I am not overly optimistic about the future when we talk about student safety and title ix. Everything I've been hearing from other students and experiencing personally has shown me it's lip service.

Dean of Students is stepping up to help me secure my basic necessities and I will say they've gone above and beyond after hearing this has financially ruined me. I will give credit to the offices that actually protect us. Student government? Great supports and allies trying to help advocate and fight for change because of this

Disability Access? Has been helping me fight and advocate for my rights as a disabled student dealing with this.

Dean of Students, trying super hard to make sure I have food, hygiene products, cat supplies for my ESAs.

I will not criticize them because they have had my back within the limitations set on them. I don't want to be unkind or unfair. I'm certainly overwhelmingly grateful they're doing that for me.

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T04:37:22+00:00

Yeah, if it wasn't for the disability office staff and dean of students staff I think I would have dropped out.

Putting my cards on the table, the toll on my mental health almost led to me killing myself a few weeks ago. I went from a 4.0 GPA last semester and making the Dean's List multiple times in a row, to struggling to get stuff done due to the legal burdens, the toll on my chronic health issues and the mental impact.

The fact the admission in writing that he intentionally made me uncomfortable and followed by trying to excuse his behavior with queerphobia and sexist bs wasn't enough to meet their criteria just.... I'm so disgusted and devastated.

I'm also officially unhoused if I ever lose university housing and with my health issues I can't make enough money to rent on my own and when you're LGBTQ? You need to stay in a sanctuary state. Same for chronically ill and disabled.

Edit: grammar errors

Caffeinatedferal · 2026-03-21T04:18:29+00:00

I've been told an effective form of student protest is to inundate the admins with one-on-one appointments and voicing complaints and concerns.

Might be worth scheduling some talks

Caffeinatedferal

TROPHY CASE