Sexual Assault Prevention

If You Are Raped or Sexually Assaulted:

1. Go to a safe place.

Get help immediately by calling 911 or the Campus Police at 293-3136.

2. Tell someone.

Talk to a trusted friend, parent, or relative.
Call the local rape and domestic violence center. RDVIC is our local center and their number is 292-5100. A victim advocate is trained to help you understand your medical and legal options and provide emotional support.

3. Go to a hospital emergency room. Get a medical exam. You may have suffered internal injuries, contracted a sexually transmitted disease or become pregnant.

4. Do not bathe, change your clothes, comb your hair, wipe after urination or douche.

Valuable DNA evidence on your body or clothing may help identify the rapist.
If you feel you may have been drugged prior to the assault, it is important to save your first urine in a clean container. Take it with you to the hospital for drug testing.

5. If you are sexually assaulted, contact the Department of Public Safety, the University Carruth Center, or your Hall Resident Assistant immediately. The University has specially trained personnel to interview and counsel students who have been the victims of any type of sexual harassment or sexual assault.

Facts:

—If someone forces you to have sex against your will or has sex with you while you are unconscious or unable to consent, this is rape and a criminal offense.

—If someone touches you for sexual purposes without your consent, this is sexual assault and a criminal offense.

—You have a legal and moral right to press criminal charges or internal charges through the University’s Judicial Boards or both.

—You may pursue internal University charges through the WVU Police Department or the Office of Student Affairs.

—Remember that you are not responsible for the unwelcome acts of others. It is never okay to force or coerce others into sex.

More Facts:

—Over eighty percent of all rapes and sexual assaults on campus involve victims and perpetrators who are intoxicated and who knew each other. The victim often trusts the perpetrator.

The reoccurring characteristics (warning signs) associated with campus rape and sexual assault are:
—They occur at weekend parties.
—80% of all rapes are committed by someone known to the victim.
—Rape is a crime of violence, power, and control. No one “asks” or “deserves” to be raped.
—Females between the ages of 15-24 are most likely to be the target of acquaintance rape.
—The woman is an underclass student, unfamiliar with alcohol and her surroundings.
—The woman has not made arrangements with friends to travel together or “look out” for each other at parties.
—The woman often goes to the perpetrator’s room or to her room alone, not suspecting that this isolation can put her at risk.
—Some forms of sexual contact such as kissing, hugging, and touching may be mutually welcome, but sometimes the offender interprets this behavior as consent to go further.

Personal Safety Tips

—Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault. These tips may reduce your risk of being sexually assaulted, but the ability to prevent rape truly lies with the offender.
—Know your limits and communicate them clearly and firmly. Decide what you are willing to do sexually. Never assume that others know how you feel.
—Be aware of people who are disrespectful to you. This includes someone who tries to make you feel guilty for saying “no,” doesn’t respect your limits, tries to get you drunk or give you drugs.
—Trust your feelings. Leave if you feel uncomfortable.
—Be aware of your surroundings and avoid secluded places, especially with someone you don’t know well.

Lowering Your Risk of Date Rape

—Have a safety plan, and avoid those who display controlling behavior and don’t respect your limits. Although victims are never responsible for being assaulted, there are precautions you can take to lower your risk.
—Let someone know where you are going.
Initially go out with a group of friends. Find out as much as possible about a person before going out on a date.
—Meet at a public place.
—Carry money for a phone call, your own dinner or a cab ride home.
—Take a cell phone.
—Be aware of what you drink, how much you drink, and the effects of alcohol or other drugs.
—Don’t accept drinks from anyone you don’t know well and trust.
—Don’t leave your drink unattended.
—P.R.O.T.E.C.T./ I.M.P.A.C.T

These are programs designed to empower you with the skills and knowledge to prevent and respond to assault situations. Class schedules can be obtained by calling Curtis White at 293-COPS.

What To Expect Afterwards if You Are Assaulted

Survivors of sexual assault experience a wide range of reactions. Some indicate that after the assault, emotions go from one extreme to another. There is no standard response to a sexual assault. You may experience:

-Nightmares and/or sleeplessness
-Inability to express emotions
-Shame and guilt
-Denial, fear, anger, and/or anxiety
-Suicidal thoughts
-Sexual dysfunction
-Lack of concentration
-Unpredictable agitation
-Drug/alcohol abuse
-Appetite loss or overeating
-Withdrawal from family and friends
-Unexplained and unexpected mood swings

If Someone You Know Has Been Assaulted

-Believe what you hear. Provide comfort and support.
-Listen without judging.
-Encourage your friend to talk. Try not to interrupt or ask a lot of questions.
-Let your friend make her/his own decisions.
-Offer to go with your friend to the hospital emergency room for help. Even days or weeks after an assault, a medical exam is important.
-Give your friend the number for RDVIC (292-5100).
-Do not tell others what happened without your friend’s permission.
-Tell your friend no one deserves to be raped. It was not her/his fault, no matter what.