This is in response to Elissa Mills' column ("Community's response to recent assaults lacks outrage, blames women," Nov. 12). I want to say thank you to Elissa. As many say and more doubt, one person can make a difference. Well, in my opinion there was no doubt -- I believe Mills has made a difference in writing that column. If she can touch just one other person, she's doing her job. She has shown us courage, grace and power in voicing to all of us the injustice she has faced. She truly represents what women of today should be.

She has inspired me to take action. Looking back at my past summer, I lived in New York City in an area known as Washington Heights -- not the best of areas. After getting off work late, I would walk to my apartment with my pepper spray in hand at 1 a.m. and I never felt the threat of assault like I do in cozy little State College. When will Penn State and the rest of our communities stop focusing on petty unimportant things and start reevaluating their values as human beings?

Mills is a brave, amazing woman. Let's stop treating each other with so little care and respect and as Mills said, "We must begin viewing each other as human beings with stories ... and secret emotions." I think this goes for not only women, but all people.