The Center for Women Students will commemorate Domestic Violence Awareness Month tonight by hosting Beverly Gooden, a domestic violence survivor who entered the national spotlight for her critique on the Internet’s reaction to the Ray Rice scandal.

“For over a year, I was physically abused by my ex-husband,” Gooden said on her website. “When TMZ released the video of Ray Rice punching, dragging, and spitting on his wife this morning, the internet exploded with questions about her. Why didn’t she leave? Why did she marry him? Why did she stay?”

To counter those who questioned why Janay (neé Palmer) Rice would stay with her husband, Gooden began to tweet her horrific experiences with her abusive husband, and used the hashtag #WhyIStayed to give reasons why it took Gooden a year to leave.

At the event, Goodness will discuss “her personal domestic violence story, reveal the most important questions to ask victims, [and outline] how we can all help.” During the talk, the audience will also be able to read emails sent to Gooden from domestic violence survivors.

“I believe in storytelling. I believe in the power of shared experience. I believe that we find strength in community. That is why I created this hashtag,” Gooden said. CNN, NPR, and the Today Show covered Gooden’s social media campaign. According to the Washington Post, thousands of people shared the hashtag to explain why they remained with their abuser. At Penn State, audience members will be able to share their experiences with domestic violence with Gooden.

The event will take place at 6:30 p.m. in the Freeman Auditorium in the HUB. For more information, click here.