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What to do if You Become a Victim of Campus Sexual Assault?
It is an understatement to state that one of the most traumatic experiences that a person can endure is a sexual assault. Unfortunately, in this day and age, when it comes to the issue of student crime, sexual assault is near the top of the list. Sadly, an ever increasing number of college students fall victim to this type of crime each and every year.
The fundamental factor that you need to keep in mind if you have become a victim of this devastating type of college crime, if you have become the victim of a sexual assault, is to remember that it is not your fault. Too often victims of sexual assault blame themselves for what has happened to them. While this is a common occurrence – while it is common for a victim of this type of college crime to “take the blame” – you need to remember that you are the victim and that being the victim was not due to your own fault.
If you have become a victim of campus sexual assault, you will want to notify the police immediately. While it is true that making this call be difficult for many people, it is call that you must make. You need to contact the police immediately in your own interests – in ensure that the perpetrator of this horrific campus crime is brought to justice. Moreover, by getting the police involved immediately, you will be working towards ensuring that this criminal does not attack and assault another person in the future.
Another difficult step that you must take when you have become the victim of this type college crime is to not shower or bathe before the police have a chance to arrange for you to have a so-called “rape kit” examination. By showering before you obtain an appropriate investigatory examination you will destroy evidence that will be invaluable in solving the crime in the short and the long term.
You also will want to make sure that you do not wash or do anything with your clothing if you have found yourself the victim of a sexual assault. Your clothing (and your bed linens, if applicable) will be important pieces of evidence in the aftermath of a sexual assault.
You do need to keep in mind that when it comes to this type of student crime, to sexual assault in a college setting, more often than not this type of campus crime will be what commonly is known as “date rape.” Rather than a sexual assault by a stranger, the typical victim of this type of college crime will have suffered a sexual assault at the hands of someone familiar – at the hands of a fellow student.
With this fact in mind, you will also want to make sure that you identify any witnesses that can support your version of the facts. In many instances, this type of student crime ends up being a case of “he said/she said.” However, by identifying other potential witnesses early on in the process (not witnesses to the actual assault as such but witnesses to the events surrounding the assault) you will be in a far better position to succeed in your efforts towards justice.
Of course, there are some important strategies that you can employ in order to better defend yourself against becoming the victim of a sexual assault in the first instance. For example, one step that you can take in order to avoid becoming the victim of a sexual assault stemming from an encounter with someone you know (or even from someone you do not particularly know) is to take care to always mind your beverage at a party, function or club. One common strategy utilized by these types of miscreants is to drop a so-called “date rape drug” into your beverage when you are not paying attention.
You will also want to make the purchase of a student safety aid such as pepper spray. The fact is that pepper spray can be an invaluable protective tool and really does provide a solid line of defense should you end up facing down someone intent on doing you harm.
Sexual assaults by strangers normally occur at night and oftentimes begin when a college student is walking across campus. Therefore, if you need to be on campus at night, make sure that you stay in well lit areas near where other people are walking. Make it a point to know where campus emergency phone boxes are located. Keep the number for campus security handy – perhaps in your cell phone. Do not hesitate to telephone campus security if you need a ride.
Finally, bear in mind that most colleges and universities have become more proactive when it comes to campus crime and student safety. Therefore, pay attention to notices and warnings that are issued by the school. By being well informed in this regard you will be able to make better decisions in order to keep yourself out of harm's way to a more significant degree.
The fundamental factor that you need to keep in mind if you have become a victim of this devastating type of college crime, if you have become the victim of a sexual assault, is to remember that it is not your fault. Too often victims of sexual assault blame themselves for what has happened to them. While this is a common occurrence – while it is common for a victim of this type of college crime to “take the blame” – you need to remember that you are the victim and that being the victim was not due to your own fault.
If you have become a victim of campus sexual assault, you will want to notify the police immediately. While it is true that making this call be difficult for many people, it is call that you must make. You need to contact the police immediately in your own interests – in ensure that the perpetrator of this horrific campus crime is brought to justice. Moreover, by getting the police involved immediately, you will be working towards ensuring that this criminal does not attack and assault another person in the future.
Another difficult step that you must take when you have become the victim of this type college crime is to not shower or bathe before the police have a chance to arrange for you to have a so-called “rape kit” examination. By showering before you obtain an appropriate investigatory examination you will destroy evidence that will be invaluable in solving the crime in the short and the long term.
You also will want to make sure that you do not wash or do anything with your clothing if you have found yourself the victim of a sexual assault. Your clothing (and your bed linens, if applicable) will be important pieces of evidence in the aftermath of a sexual assault.
You do need to keep in mind that when it comes to this type of student crime, to sexual assault in a college setting, more often than not this type of campus crime will be what commonly is known as “date rape.” Rather than a sexual assault by a stranger, the typical victim of this type of college crime will have suffered a sexual assault at the hands of someone familiar – at the hands of a fellow student.
With this fact in mind, you will also want to make sure that you identify any witnesses that can support your version of the facts. In many instances, this type of student crime ends up being a case of “he said/she said.” However, by identifying other potential witnesses early on in the process (not witnesses to the actual assault as such but witnesses to the events surrounding the assault) you will be in a far better position to succeed in your efforts towards justice.
Of course, there are some important strategies that you can employ in order to better defend yourself against becoming the victim of a sexual assault in the first instance. For example, one step that you can take in order to avoid becoming the victim of a sexual assault stemming from an encounter with someone you know (or even from someone you do not particularly know) is to take care to always mind your beverage at a party, function or club. One common strategy utilized by these types of miscreants is to drop a so-called “date rape drug” into your beverage when you are not paying attention.
You will also want to make the purchase of a student safety aid such as pepper spray. The fact is that pepper spray can be an invaluable protective tool and really does provide a solid line of defense should you end up facing down someone intent on doing you harm.
Sexual assaults by strangers normally occur at night and oftentimes begin when a college student is walking across campus. Therefore, if you need to be on campus at night, make sure that you stay in well lit areas near where other people are walking. Make it a point to know where campus emergency phone boxes are located. Keep the number for campus security handy – perhaps in your cell phone. Do not hesitate to telephone campus security if you need a ride.
Finally, bear in mind that most colleges and universities have become more proactive when it comes to campus crime and student safety. Therefore, pay attention to notices and warnings that are issued by the school. By being well informed in this regard you will be able to make better decisions in order to keep yourself out of harm's way to a more significant degree.
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