Andrea Cooper, the mother of a young woman who committed suicide, will share her experiences with NIU on Wednesday.

Andrea’s daughter Kristin was 20 years old when she committed suicide after experiencing acquaintance rape and depression.

“It is certainly a serious issue on college campuses,” said Darnell Bradley, program coordinator for the Fraternity and Sorority Affairs Office. “Usually nothing comes out of it as far as an arrest.”

Bradley said acquaintance rape is the most under-reported violent crime in the nation.

“No one has come to me to say that it has happened to them,” Bradley said. “But when being around students, I hear the mumblings and rumors.”

The presentation will go into statistics about rape and college-age students and suicide among people under 30 years old.

She also will discuss signs that can be used to identify someone who may be thinking of suicide. Symptoms include decreased energy or fatigue, sleeping or eating problems, feelings of guilt and excessive crying.

She also will encourage victims to seek counseling.

“We wanted to shed light on the topic,” Bradley said. “How [Andrea’s] daughter dealt with it is not recommended or productive.”

The program is being sponsored by the Alpha Chi Omega Foundation, the sorority Kristin was a part of; and Delta Delta Delta, which is Andrea’s sorority.