GREENSBORO - Students at Greensboro College are using a non-traditional method to get others talking about real world issues such as rape on campus and college age veterans with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder; they're doing it in the theatre.

"My mom is a nurse and when I went home for Christmas break she talked to me about some of her friends that work at colleges and [told me] females coming in all the time needing rape kits," said "It Stops Here," writer and director Michaela Richards.

Richards knew there was an issue and wanted something done about it. For two years she worked on writing  "It Stops Here,” a play about sexual harassment and rape at colleges.

"I really thought it was important for freshmen to understand safety and understand what you should do if something were to happen to you," said Richards.  

Richards said overall students had a great reaction, but during one performance several audience members made sexually explicit comments. 

"The piece was saying, 'Schools have policies that aren't working' and it did exactly what I wanted it to,” said Richards. “The school is now forced to look at their policy."

Launching a Title IX investigation into the comments

For Lilly Allemond, her passion is PTSD.

"It had been a very big part of my life and it's not something that's talked about or taught very much at all," said Allemond.  

The actors in "In Conflict" are portraying real soldiers.

"Their words were taken from actual interviews that these veterans gave back in early 2000’s when the war was still going on,” said Allemond.  

Allemond said the play looks at what civilians can do for veterans coming home.

"Really they are not being taken care of in the manner that they need to be,” Allemond said. “They deserve everything and more."

The Theater Department Chair, David Schram, said it's one thing to read about these topics, but first hand account carry much more impact.

For those interested, it's not too late to see "In Conflict."

The play will be performed Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.

For more information on Greensboro College’s theater department, click here.