Sexual Assault Defined

Sexual Assault is any time anyone does anything of a sexual nature without the expressed participatory consent of all parties involved. This can include penetration (the insertion of any object into any opening) or contact (touching an unwilling or underage person's intimate parts or forcing an unwilling or underage person to touch another's intimate parts). Sexual assault may involve use of force, threat, coercion, surprise, or by taking advantage of a person's trust/helplessness.

How to responds to someone who comes to you...

Believe/Accept
This is the most important factor in a person's recovery.

Listen
There is no need to search for reasons, just care.

No More Violence
The survivor has already dealt with one uncontrollably violent person, don’t give her/him another one to deal with. Be there for the survivor.

Give the Survivor Control
Let the survivor make even the smallest of decisions, and ask what her/his most outstanding concern is. This should be addressed first.

Realize Your Limitations
You are not a counselor, you probably don't have the answers, and you don’t have to.

Steps to Follow

1. Ascertain the physical well being of the survivor
Ask if she/he is physically all right. The survivor may be in shock and unaware of her/his injuries, so explore this issue beyond initial questioning and observation if you feel it is necessary. Don't assume that a person who has experienced the trauma of sexual assault will necessarily react in an openly emotional manner. Many times the survivor will appear to be calm, and occasionally even emotionally removed from the incident.

2. Ensure privacy
Make sure the survivor has as much privacy as she/he desires when speaking with you. Having anyone other than the survivor present should be the survivor's decision. Ask if the survivor would like someone, such as a roommate or friend, with her/him during your conversation. If so, discuss the importance of confidentiality with that individual.

3. Notify Michelle Pachuta, Campus Sexual Assault Advocate
Serving as the sexual assault advocate, she will work with you in assisting the assaulted student and explaining to the survivor the Marietta College protocol. Please inform the survivor that there are certain situations you will not handle on your own and require the help of the sexual assault advocate.

4. Provide emotional support to the survivor
The fact that the survivor has told you about the assault indicates a great deal of trust in you. It is important that you remain with the survivor as much as possible and continue to be supportive and reinforce her/his decision to get help. Although the Sexual Assault Advocate plays the primary role in organizing assistance for the survivor, you can play a critical role in the survivor's emotional recovery.

5. Maintain confidentiality
Confidentiality is extremely important. Often the survivor will want no one other than those already involved to know what has happened and the survivor's wishes must be respected. However, hearing the details of the assault may arouse intense feelings for you as a support person and you may feel a strong need to talk with someone. Discuss your concerns with the Sexual Assault Advocate or a counselor and/or clinical psychologist. Do not discuss any aspects of the assault with other faculty, administration, staff or students.

Call

Sexual Assault Advocate at extension 4477 (after business hours: 740-568-1016) or

Dr. Michael Harding, Clinical Psychologist at extension 4477 (after business hours: 740-525-3665/740-376-9402).

If neither one of them are available, call S.A.I.N. at 374-3111 or Campus Police at extension 4611.