Erika Krouse has one of those faces where people can’t help themselves from telling her their darkest secrets. It started when she was a kid and nothing has changed throughout her life. She constantly hears things like “I don't know why I'm telling you this” as people spill all their secrets. Some believe it’s because she has a familiar-looking face where everyone thinks they know her somehow but Erika believes it is more than that. She has mastered the ability to mirror people's expressions and body language in order to make people feel more inclined to share with her as well as having an open personality that makes people feel welcome when talking to her. As she grew older she was offered an opportunity to use her special powers for a job that would lead to a monumental change in Title IX.
Siena College’s English department hosted Krouse as part of The Greyfriar Living Literature Series on November 18 and 19. She came to Siena to share her story, hosting a book reading and signing her latest memoir Tell me Everything: The Story of a Private Investigator. She shared her story of getting a job offer to be a private investigator after a lawyer spilled his secrets to her at a bookstore. While the job was challenging at first Erika was eventually granted a Title IX case that changed her life.
“Not many things in my life mattered, this mattered, this changed things.”
She explained to the students how this case was the first to use Title IX in terms of sexual assault on campuses. It's common now for cases like the one she investigated to fall under Title IX but before this case, it never happened. The reading inspired students because while Erika shared the story of what it was like to investigate such a difficult case she also opened up to the students about her own experiences.
“It was really powerful to hear a survivor standing before us and sharing her experiences and past trauma to a group of people she doesn't know let alone to open up about it and share it with the world in her book,” Deana Bowie '23 said. “As a young woman, her bravery and honesty were really inspiring.”
When deciding to write the book Erika knew she would have to share about herself in order to do justice to the women she spoke to during the investigation. She wrote the book with hopes of spreading awareness about sexual assault cases, especially on college campuses, and starting that conversation. By writing about the case in a way that is easier and more accessible to most people the information could be spread easier.
“More people will be able to read about the case, hopefully, people that need to read it.”
The book reading allowed Siena students to be a part of the conversation and learn firsthand what the investigation process looks like with these types of cases. After the reading, she opened the floor to questions allowing students to dig deeper into the things that they thought were important. She shared information with the students about how things have changed and how they need to continue changing to make a lasting impact. After the event, she met one on one with students for a book signing where students were able to purchase the book to continue spreading awareness. Her book, filled with all the details about her “superpower” and information about the case, is now featured in the Siena bookstore in hopes that more students will learn about the importance of Title XI.
