What is Sexual
Assault?
It is an act
of violence defined as any unwanted, coerced, manipulated or forced sexual
contact or intercourse. This includes all forms of sexual violence such as
sexual penetration, oral sex, intercourse, or penetration with an object.
This definition also includes any touching or fondling of sexual body parts,
by force or threat of force.
What is
Acquaintance Rape?
Acquaintance
rape is sexual assault by a person known to the victim. This includes a
friend, a date, a colleague, a fellow student, a lover and even a spouse.
-
Date rape
is the most common form of sexual assault on college campuses.
-
Many
victims of date rape feel more ashamed and guilty after the rape; they
were not only victimized but also betrayed by someone they know.
What is Stranger
Rape?
Stranger rape
is sexual assault by an unknown assailant.
Facts:
● According
to a study conducted by the National Victim Center, 1.3 women (age 18 and
over) in the United States are forcibly raped each minute. That translates
to 78 per hour, 1,871 per day, or 683,000 per year.- Rape in America:
A Report to the Nation, National Victim Center 1992.
● 91% of the
victims of rape and sexual assault are female and 9% are male. Nearly 99% of
the offenders single-victim incidents are male. - Violence Against
Women, Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Dept of Justice, 1994.
Of the rapes
that occur on college campuses, 80% to 95% are committed by someone known to
the victim. Centers for Disease Control (1999). Preventing violence and
suicide.
90 percent
of rapes on campus occur when either the rapist or victim has used alcohol.
Student Affairs Today (1999). College Binge Drinking: The facts
● Less than
2% of sexual assault allegations are false, unlike other crimes where the
percentage of false allegations tends to be higher. Sexual Assault, 1994
What to do if you
Have Been Raped!
·
Go to a safe
place
·
Tell someone
you trust or call the Women’s Center, local rape crisis hotline or
counseling center.
·
Write down as
many of the details of the assault as possible and save them. If you decide
not to report the assault now, you may want the details later if you cahnge
your mind.
·
Contact the
Police Department. Reporting the crime can assist you regaining a sense of
personal power.
·
Seek Medical
Care. Go for medical treatment, regardless of whether or nor you intend to
report the inicident to the authorities. Ask the doctor to test your blood
and urine if you think your were drugged.
·
Preserve all
physical evidence. Do not brush your teeth, shower, douche or change
clothes before seeing a doctor.
·
Place each
item of clothing in a separate brown paper bag. DO NOT USE PLASTIC BAGS.
·
Preserve the
crime scene as much as possible. Do not straighten the scene of the
assault.
If Someone you Know
has Been Raped…
-
Believe
him or her.
-
Never
blame or ask, “Why did you…?” or “Why didn’t you…?”
-
Realize
that any emotion is normal after an assault.
-
Ask
for advice from the Women’s Center, counseling center, police or local
sexual assault crisis service.
-
Encourage
the individual to seek medical care.
-
Encourage
the individual to report the crime to the police.
Please
don’t...
-
Tell
her/him how they could have avoided it.
-
Tell
her/him not to talk about it.
-
Tell them
how it would never happen to you and why.
-
Feel
you need to retaliate against our attacker.
Ask us if they couldn't have done something differently during the attack.
Say something like, "Well, it's been six months (a year, 5 years etc.) and
ask if
they're "over it".
Counseling
and other Campus Resources:
Survivors of
sexual assault and those close to them may experience a range of emotions
such as guilt, anger, fear, depression, withdrawal, and helplessness, either
immediately after the incident or at a later time. These emotions are
normal after an assault. Talking with a professional is helpful and is
recommended. Counseling services are available for you regardless of when
the sexual assault occurred and in a variety of settings.
24 Hours a
Day:
Police
Department……………….….911 Sexual Assault Hotline…1-888-999-5545
New Britain
General Hospital…224-5671
Your Resident
Assistant or Hall Director
During the
Day and on Campus:
Ruthe Boyea
Women’s Center….832-1655
University
Health Services……...832-1925
Prevention
and Counseling……...832-1945
How Can I Stop
Sexual Assault at CCSU?
Sexual
Assault is a complex but very real issue on college campuses today. Of
course, just one or even a few individuals cannot solve this problem.
However, by increasing your knowledge and acknowledging your ability to make
a difference at CCSU, you can begin to reduce the risk. Consider the
following ways you can work to stop sexual violence.
-
Encourage
club officers, residence hall assistants, coaches, professors, and etc. to
provide pertinent information about sexual assault to students.
-
Talk openly
with your friends about these issues.
-
Don’t be
afraid to get involved.
-
Use the
resources listed in this brochure to inform yourself and help to plan
activities and programs for campus clubs and organizations.
-
Speak up
and take a stand in situations that may escalate to sexual abuse.
-
Take care
of yourself and your friends.
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