Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence Resources

The purpose of this section is to provide sexual violence resources – not just for our members, but for potential new members, friends, family, and affiliates.

If you are in immediate danger or need immediate help, please review the following before exploring the collated resources:

GET IMMEDIATE HELP

Call 911 Or The University Police

• Get yourself to a safe place (friend’s dorm room, hospital)

• Save evidence; try not to shower, wash or change clothes

• Consider medical care and/or forensic evidence collections

• Contact a sexual assault advocate to learn more about options for reporting, counseling, medical care, housing and academic accommodations, and student conduct proceedings

• Consider reporting the incident and confidential vs private resources

• Seek emotional and mental support

• Within 5 days, it is important to get medical and emotional help as soon as possible. Consider going to the nearby SANE/SART unit at a medical center where you can obtain a confidential medical care and a forensic exam by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. The exam is free and allows you to obtain evidence should you decide to report the incident to the police and/or press charges in the future.

• You can access SANE/SART services by going to the emergency department and letting the triage nurse know that you are there for a SANE exam. Wear the same clothes you were wearing when the incident occurred to facilitate evidence collection. Try not to bathe, change clothing, comb your hair or brush your teeth after the incident. Even if you have done so, you can still go to the SANE center within 120 hours to get medical care and evidence collection.

It Is Important To Know

During An Exam With A Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner, Injuries Will Be Assessed And Treated. A SANE Will Also Discuss Options For The Prevention Of STIs And Preventing Pregnancy.

If you are able, try to avoid disturbing or discarding evidence that might have your attacker’s DNA on it before you seek medical care. Do not urinate or defecate; shower, bathe, or douche; brush your teeth or gargle; brush your hair; or throw away clothes worn during the attack. Taking these steps can be very difficult following a traumatic experience, but doing so will help preserve potential evidence should you decide to make a report. You can still have an exam performed even if you have done one of these activities, such as showering. You may want to bring a change of clothes when you go to the hospital or health facility for the exam.

A friend may accompany you to the Emergency Department.

Privacy Vs Confidentiality

Privacy means that information related to a report will be shared with a limited circle of University Employees who “need to know” in order to assist in the assessment, investigation, and resolution of the report. All employees are involved in the University’s response to the report receive specific training and guidance about sharing and safeguarding private information in accordance with state and federal law.

Confidentiality protects certain relationships including with medical and clinical care providers, mental health providers, and counselors. The confidential employee cannot reveal the information to any third party except when an applicable law or court order requires or permits disclosure of the information.

Please note that the resources provided are a combination of both private and confidential resources. Make sure to double-check before contacting an organization about their level of confidentiality.

A Note About Contacting Resources

Please be advised that e-mail is not a secure or confidential way to discuss the violence in your life or in anyone else’s life.