What Everyone Should Know About Sexual Assault

1
What Everyone Should Know About Sexual Assault

• 
  
• Presented by
• Joe Hamilton, MA, LPC, NCC
• Assistant Director
• University Counseling Services
• Truman State University

2
The truth about Rape

• Rape is an act of violence
• Rape is about control power, not about sexual
  desire
• Rape is not the victims fault
• Most rapes involve persons who are known to each
  other
• No one asks to be raped
• Rape can happen to anyone

3
Truman Surveys

• 2006 Core Survey (487 responses)
• 8.1 of females and 10.3 of males said they had
  been taken advantage of sexually during the past
  year.
• 1.6 of females and 5.5 of males said that they
  had taken advantage of another sexually during
  the past year.
• National College Health Assessment
• Within the last school year, Truman students
  reported experiencing
• Percent() Male Female
• 2005 2007 2005 2007
• Verbal threats for sex against their will 1.7
  4.1 4.4 2.4
• Sexual touching against their will 5.2
  6.1 13.9 12.2
• Attempted sexual penetration against their
  will 0.7 2.0 4.8 3.3
• Sexual penetration against their will 0.0
  1.5 2.0 2.2
• 2005 1,126 responses 2007 659 responses

4
Trumans Sexual Misconduct Policy

• the involvement in any sexual act with another
  person without the acknowledged and informed
  consent of the other person. Failure of the other
  person to object to the sexual act does not
  qualify as acknowledged and informed consent,
  particularly when the other person is
  incapacitated by drugs, alcohol, mental
  deficiency, or other disability.

5
Prevention of Acquaintance Rape

• Decide on your own personal sexual limits
• Communicate Clearly
• Be assertive - be firm
• Avoid alcohol or drugs or excessive usage
• Never leave a bar or party with someone you
  just met

6
Date Rape Prevention

• Stay in control there is no question of owing
  your date
• Dont let yourself be isolated
• Trust your intuition if you feel theres
  something wrong get away immediately
• Be wary of people who have little respect for
  others in general
• Be wary of people who anger quickly, drink too
  much or are overly possessive

7
Predatory Drugs

• Ruffies and GHB are date rape drugs (also called
  roofies, rope, ropies, the forget pill, roach,
  roachies, rib, rophies, la Roche, R-2)
• Rapists use these drugs to fool someone make
  them pass out
• The drugs remove all memories of the time youre
  under the influence
• (8-24 hour blackouts, memory loss, loss of
  muscle control, inability to move, prolonged
  sleeping)
• The rapist can do whatever they want with you

8
Watch Out For Yourself

• Dont drink beverages that you did not open
  yourself
• Dont exchange or share drinks
• Dont drink from a punch bowl
• If someone offers you a drink, watch it being
  poured, carry it yourself
• Dont leave your drink unattended
• If left unattended get rid of it
• Dont drink anything that tastes unusual or looks
  suspicious

9
Watch Out for Friends

• Have a designated Sober person to check up on
  each other
• If a friend appears very intoxicated, gets sick,
  passes out in an uncharacteristic way make sure
  theyre safe if necessary call 911
• If you see someone dosing a drink or punch bowl
  intervene warn others
• Tell friends about the dangers of date rape drugs

10
What to do when a rape occurs

• If the assault has just occurred, first make sure
  that the victim feels safe. If not you may want
  to change locations.
• Medical attention may be and often is required.
• Victims may choose to pursue legal action. The
  sooner a report is made, the better the case
  against the assailant.
• However, be open to the fact that the victim may
  not be at a place where they can process what has
  happened. Call Victim Support Services at
  665-1617 (1-800-668-1617) for assistance. The
  sooner a report is made, the better the case
  against the assailant.

11
What to say to the victim

• Helpful points to be communicated
• Im glad your alive
• Its not your fault
• Im sorry that it happened
• You did the best you could
• I believe you
• Ask the victim how he or she wants to be treated.
  Dont take over control.

12
How to continue being of help

• Be a good listener. Be around just to sit and
  talk.
• Realize that this will completely disrupt the
  victims lives so be patient.
• Understand that they are trying to regain control
  of their life and encourage them to make their
  own choices.
• Seek help from other people. Rape is hard on
  everyone involved. The more support available,
  the better off everyone will be. Strongly
  consider professional assistance from University
  Counseling Services. Do not try to take on all
  of the responsibility alone.

13
What you can do to stop rape

• Report
• Communicate Know your sexual limits
• Alcohol and drug use increases risk
• Speak up! Dont be a bystander!
• Be aware of rape supportive language
• Support survivors of rape
• Keep aware of rape issues and how they affect men
  and women
• Join and support anti-violence organizations

14
Anti-violence organizations

• http//www.mencanstoprape.org
• http//www.oneinfourusa.org
• http//www.rainn.org/

15
University Counseling Services(660) 785-4014
http//ucs.truman.edu ucs_at_truman.edu202
Patterson (located west of Grim Hall)

• Free and confidential counseling to Truman
  students
• 6 Full-time professional therapists
• Offer individual, couples and group counseling
• Open 8-5 M-F
• Plus on call 7 days a week, 24 hours a day
  665-5621
• Do presentations to any group over a wide variety
  of topics
• Referral assistance