Policies & Procedures

Sexual Assault and Acquaintance Rape

Adapted from Reality Check: What You Need to Know About Sexual Assault and A Closer Look: Resources for Survivors of Sexual Assault and Acquaintance Rape

Introduction

Washington University is a campus dedicated to creating a respectful leaning community, free from any form of sexual assault or harassment. While it is difficult to discuss these issues, they are an unfortunate reality on any college campus.

Rape and sexual assault are more likely to occur during the first year of college and when alcohol or other drugs are involved. Sexual assault affects all members of the university community, and we must be responsible for one another.

Although the vast majority of sexual assaults are committed against women, men can also be victims of sexual assault. Male survivors have many of the same feelings as female survivors of sexual assault and have the same options for seeking assistance. Campus resources for sexual assault prevention and survivor support are available to all members of the university community.

No one asks to be sexually assaulted. It makes no difference how a person looks, where the person is, or what the person is wearing. It is never the fault of the survivor.

The only people who can prevent sexual assault are perpetrators.

Statistics

1 of 6 U.S. women has experienced an attempted or completed rape as a child and/or an adult.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998)

It is estimated that for every rape reported, between 3 and 10 rapes are not reported.

(National Center for Victims of Crime, 1992)

In a study of college students, 75% of male students and 55% of female students involved in acquaintance rape had been drinking or using drugs.

(National Center for Victims of Crime, 1992)

1 of every 33 men in the U.S. have experienced an attempted or completed rape as a child and/or adult as reported by the National Violence Against Women Survey.

(Bureau of Justice Statistics, 1998)

A national survey revealed that friends or acquaintances committed 50% of the 500,000 rapes and sexual assaults reported to the police.

(Bauchman, et al., 1995)

A study at a large urban university revealed that some form of unwanted sex was experienced by over 50% of a representative sample of more than 1,000 female students. (Abbey, et al., 1996)

In the United States, approximately 78 rapes occur each hour, 1,872 rapes each day and 683,280 each year.(National Center for Victims of Crime, 1992)

Definitions

Rape is the commonly understood word for what Missouri law terms sexual assault: "any sexual intercourse with another person knowing he does so without the other person's consent" (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 566.040). When sexual intercourse is "accomplished by force and without consent," Missouri law defines this as forcible rape (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 566.030). Sexual intercourse "means any penetration, however slight, of the female sex organ by the male sex organ regardless of whether an emission results" (Missouri Revised Statutes 566.010). Deviate sexual intercourse "means any act involving the genitals of one person and the mouth, tongue, or anus of another person or a sexual act involving the penetration, however slight, of the male or female sex organ or the anus by a finger, instrument, or object done for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person" (Missouri Revised Statutes 566.010).

Acquaintance rape, or date rape, is commonly understood as a rape in which the survivor (male or female) and the rapist (male or female) know each other. The rapist may be a casual acquaintance, friend, or a steady dating partner. Acquaintance rape is punishable by law to the same degree as stranger rape.

Sexual assault is commonly understood as unwanted sexual contact accomplished without consent. Missouri law terms this sexual misconduct: "if a person has deviate sexual intercourse with another person of the same sex or he purposely subjects another person to sexual contact or engages in conduct which would constitute sexual contact except that touching occurs through the clothing without that person's consent" (Missouri Revised Statutes Sections 566.090-.095). Sexual contact "means any touching of another person with the genitals, or any touching of the genitals or anus of another person or the breast of a female person for the purpose of arousing or gratifying sexual desire of any person." (Missouri Revised Statutes 566.010). Sexual assault, like rape, is often committed by a person the survivor knows.

Sexual harassment is defined as "unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of an ostensibly sexual nature, which creates an offensive, intimidating, or hostile environment." For more information about prevention and reporting of sexual harassment, see the Safety and Security on the Danforth Campus and Off-campus Properties brochure produced annually by University Police.

Mutual Consent, consent given freely and knowingly by both parties, is the key to preventing rape, sexual assault, and sexual harassment.

Washington University Policy

Section III of the University Judicial Code clearly prohibits the following conduct and states that students engaging in such conduct are subject to disciplinary action.

"Sexual contact with any member of the University community or visitor to the University without that person's consent, including but not limited to rape and other forms of sexual assault. Conduct will be considered 'without consent' if no clear consent, verbal or nonverbal is given; if inflicted through force, threat of force, or coercion; or if inflicted upon a person who is unconscious or who otherwise reasonably appears to be without the mental or physical capacity to consent. For example, sexual contact with a person who reasonably appears to be impaired in the exercise of their judgment by alcohol or other drugs may be considered 'without consent'."

Risk Reduction

Know you have the right to make choices.
Trust your instincts.
Know your sexual limits.
Take "no" for an answer.
Be aware of your surroundings
Be assertive.
Have your friends watch out for you.
Report inappropriate behaviors.
Communicate your expectations clearly.

Date Rape Drugs

Date rape drugs can be used in cases of sexual assault and rape to quickly sedate victims and render them incapable of defending themselves. The two most commonly used are Rohypnol and GHB, both of which are illegal to produce, buy, or sell in the United States. Either of these drugs used in combination with alcohol may lead to coma or death.

Rohypnol is a strong sedative. Its effects can begin to be felt within 20 to 30 minutes of ingestion and can continue anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. It is a colorless, odorless drug with a bitter taste and dissolves quickly in any liquid including water. Alcohol not only intensifies the effects of this drug, but may also make it life-threatening.

GHB is a powerful drug that acts as a depressant and often causes temporary amnesia. Victims may not be able to recall events that took place while under the drug's influence. GHB comes in the form of clear liquid or a grainy white powder substance. Its effects may appear within 15 minutes from ingestion and last approximately 4 hours. When mixed with alcohol the results may be fatal.

If you think you have been drugged, tell someone immediately.
Get to a safe place and receive medical attention.

Risk Reduction

Stay Sober.
Set a limit on drinks for the night.
Bring your own drink.
Never leave your drink unattended.
Avoid pre-made drinks.
Observe your drink being made.
Do not accept drinks from strangers.
Never mix drugs with alcohol.
If it tastes strange, don't drink it.

Alcohol and Sexual Activity

Mixing alcohol and sexual activity is risky behavior.

Remember...

If you are too drunk to understand a when a person is trying to say "No"...

If you are too drunk to listen and respect when a person is trying to say "No"...

If you have sex with a person who is incapable of giving consent...

If you can not give consent...

Then...IT IS RAPE!

Awareness

Trust your gut feelings.

If something does not feel right, or if you feel uncomfortable or scared around someone, pay attention to those feelings.
Be aware of the role alcohol and drugs play.

Alcohol and other drugs impair coordination and judgment. Under the influence, you may not be able to make sound decisions or recognize dangerous situations. If you begin to feel disoriented, find a friend.
Understand the effect that stereotypes and sex roles have on shaping your behavior.

Generally, women are taught to be passive about their sexuality, and men are taught to be the aggressors. Always trying to be polite can put one's life in danger.
Be aware of the messages you may be sending.

Men and women need to know their personal limits regarding intimacy and sex, and communicate them verbally and clearly.

Stalking

Stalking is the willful, malicious and repeated following or harassing of another person. The victims, usually women, live in constant fear of the stalkers - which include former spouses, ex-partners, or strangers. The impact of stalking on victims is commonly minimized by society.

Missouri law states that "any person who purposely and repeatedly harasses or follows with the intent of harassing, or who harasses another person, and makes a credible threat with the intent to place that person in reasonable fear of death or serious physical injury, commits the crime of 'stalking'." (Missouri Revised Statutes Section 565.225)

What to do if you are being stalked:

Notify the stalker to stop. You can send a registered letter to the stalker stating that he or she must stop the behavior immediately.
Notify University Police.
Tell everyone. Give friends, relatives, co-workers, RAs, RCDs, deans, advisors and neighbors a description of the stalker and ask them to document any sightings.
Take photographs, if you are able to do so safely.
Save all written material. Save and date all cards, letters, notes, and e-mails form the stalker.
Keep all legal documents. Obtain and keep copies of warrants, protective orders, court orders, etc.
Never underestimate threats made by the stalker.

After you have taken care of yourself legally, develop a support system. You may begin to experience rage, terror, suspicion, inability to trust anyone, depression, changes in sleeping/eating patterns, exhaustion, frequent crying spells.. These are normal reactions to the extreme stress caused by the continuing victimization. Some of these symptoms may be alleviated by talking to someone who is trained to work with victims and survivors.

Resources for Survivors and Their Friends

Seven Important Steps

These are seven important steps you should follow to the extent possible after a rape or sexual assault.

Get to a safe place.
Contact a friend who can help you and support you through the following steps.
Contact one of the campus or community resources listed at the end of this booklet. Many of these resources are confidential.
Do not shower, drink, eat, douche, wash your hands, comb your hair, brush your teeth, or change your clothes. Such activities destroy physical evidence which could be useful in possible prosecution of the perpetrator.
Get medical attention right away. Even if you do not want to report the event to the police, you may have injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, or a pregnancy that require medical care.
Consider contacting the police. If you wish, the police may meet you at the hospital. As long as no physical injury was incurred by a weapon, the police will allow you to decide whether to press charges.
When you get a quiet moment, record everything that you remember happening with detail. This may help you through your own healing process as well as with any legal action you may decide to take.

Should I Seek Medical Care?

It is imperative that you take care of yourself after a sexual assault. The most important consideration is your health. In seeking medical care, it is important to do the following

Get examined for any visible and non-visible injuries.
Get tested for any sexually transmitted diseases.
Take a pregnancy test; emergency contraceptive pills must be taken within 72 hours after the assault to prevent pregnancy.
Test for "date rape drugs" in the blood system; tests must be administered within 72 hours of the expected ingestion of the drug.
Have medical evidence collected in case you decided to make a formal complaint against the perpetrator.

You are the main focus. If you wish to have evidence collected do not bathe, shower, douche, brush your teeth, comb your hair, change your clothes, or wash you hands. Remember that receiving medical assistance is your best defense against pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. Receiving medical care does not mean that you must prosecute the perpetrator. Your decision to prosecute does not have to be made on the day of your examination. You may decide whether to take legal steps days or months after the medical exam.

Bring somebody with you who can act as a support and as an advocate. In addition to friends or RAs, staff from Student Health Service, or a Women's Crisis Counselor, can accompany a survivor to the hospital. The Student Health and Counseling Service is also available for follow-up treatment or concerns.

Who Should I Call?

You can call a friend, your Resident Advisor, your Residential College Director (RCD), your advisor, or anyone at the University with whom you feel safe and comfortable she or he can help you access resources and decide what to do.

You can call Student Health and Counseling Service to talk to the counselor on 24-hour call.

Call 935-6666 after hours and on weekends.

Call 935-6695 during the day.

You can call a Women's Crisis Counselor. Karen Levin Coburn and Lisa Levine are the Washington University Women's Crisis Counselors who can provide immediate support and help both women and men identify resources and options available. They can be reached at their offices during normal working hours and through University Police after hours.

Karen Levin Coburn Asst. Vice Chancellor-Students 935-5040

Lisa Levine Residential College Director 935-5050

You can call the University Police to make a report and/or contact a Women's Crisis Counselor, at 935-5555.

You can call any of the resources listed at the end of this brochure. There are numerous people at Washington University and in the St. Louis community who want to help you. Please contact one of them

How Will I feel?

There is no right or wrong way to feel. After a sexual assault, you may feel a variety of emotions both having long term and short term effects. The following is a brief list of the combined short and long term physical, emotional and behavioral reactions you may have after a sexual assault.

Physical Reactions

Soreness
Fatigue
Tension or anxiety
Inability to sleep
Inability to eat
Over eating
Over sleeping

Emotional Reactions

Anger
Guilt/Self-blame
Paranoia
Helplessness
Confusion
Denial
Numbness
Shock
Depression
Low self-esteem
Distrust

Should I Report?

Washington University encourages you to file a report about the incident. By providing the Washington University Police Department with information, you may be able to prevent future assaults against yourself or others. Even if you report the incident, it is your choice whether or not to request an investigation.

You may choose not to report the incident to the Police; this is your decision to make.

You may choose to file a confidential report, anonymously if you wish, through the Committee on Sexual Assault or University Police, to assure that the incident is known to university officials and reported in university statistics.

The university has a judicial hearing process for incidents of sexual misconduct. Details of this process can be discussed confidentially with the Judicial Administrator without pressing charges.

Rights of a Survivor

You have the right to receive medical care and mental health treatment or participate in legal procedures only after giving informed consent.
You have the right not to be asked questions about prior sexual experiences.
You have the right to keep your name from the media.
You have the right to be protected against future assaults.
You have the right not to report to the police.
You have the right to be given as much credibility as a victim of any other crime.
You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect.

How to Help a Friend

As a friend of a survivor, it is important to listen to what she or he tells you. There may be times when the survivor needs to talk about the attack. Allow the survivor to determine when and where she or he feels like talking about the trauma. The following are recommendations for assisting a friend through the ordeal.

Be supportive, without overreacting.
Your friend may reveal some graphic information. It is important not to overreact to the information, but to be supportive and just listen. Believe your friend. People rarely lie about rape or sexual assault.
Give your friend the chance to talk about the experience and her or his feelings.
You may feel the need to ask questions like "why did you go home with him?" Such questions further blame the survivor and add to the sense of guilt or shame.
Communicate to your friend that any feelings she or he may have are normal and understandable.
Supporting a friend means validating her or his feelings and emotions. Remember that a survivor may experience a range or emotions, all of which are normal. Attempt to support your friend through this roller coaster of emotions.
Show interest, but do not pry or ask for specific details.
Listen. Listen. Listen. Your friend will tell you what she or he feels the needs to do. Asking prying questions such as "what exactly did he make you do?" may make the survivor re-live the experience or recall portions of the incident that may be too painful to reveal. Allow your friend to be silent. You do not have to speak when she or he stops talking.
Do not be judgmental about your friend's actions and reactions.
Judgmental remarks may make the survivor feel responsible for the incident.
Avoid making decisions for the survivor.
Often the survivor needs a friend to listen. Listening is one of the most helpful things you may do for a survivor. Ask how you can help.
Recognize your own limitations.
No one expects you to be an expert in counseling or sexual assault; therefore, avoid making strong recommendations to the survivor. It is also important for you to consider getting counseling for yourself. Rape and sexual assault are difficult topics to discuss. Realize that as a friend you may need counseling to cope with the events your friend may have shared with you.

For More Information

If you are a survivor of sexual assault or acquaintance rape, or a friend of a survivor, you can find more information in A Closer Look. This pamphlet can be obtained from any of the campus resources listed below.

Resources

If you have been a victim of sexual assault, rape, or sexual harassment, get help. There are many resources available on the Washington University campus. Do not go through this experience alone. Seek help from friends, Student Health and Counseling Service, Faculty and Staff, Advisors, Resident Advisors, or University Police.

University

Campus Safety and Medical Assistance

University Police Department (WUPD) 935-5555

Student Health Service (Confidential) 935-6666

Counseling

Student Counseling Service (Confidential) 935-5980

Women's Crisis Counselors (contact through WUPD) 935-5555

Sexual Assault and Rape Action Hotline (SARAH) 935-8080

Uncle Joe's Peer Counseling and Resource Center 935-5099

Advice, Support and Education

Committee On Sexual Assault (COSA) 935-5994

Office of Residential Life 935-5037

Judicial Administrator 935-4174

Office of Student Activities 935-5994

Committee Organized for Rape Education (CORE) 935-8503

Community

Medical Assistance (Emergency Departments)

Barnes Hospital 362-9123

Jewish Hospital 454-7900

St. Mary's Health Center 768-8360

Counseling, Advice and Support

YWCA (24 hour hotline) 531-7273

YWCA St. Louis Regional Sexual Assault Center 726-6665

Women's Support and Community Services (24 hr. hotline) 531-2003

Life Crisis Services (24 hour hotline) 647-4357

Rape and Violence End Now (RAVEN) 645-2057

Victim Service Council 889-3075

Aid to Victims of Crime 652-3623

References

Abbey, A.; Ross, L.T.; Mcduffie, D.; Mcausland, P. Alcohol and dating risk factors for sexual assault among college women. Psychology of Women Quarterly 1996, 20(1) 147-169.

Bachman, R; Salzman, L.E. Violence Against Women: Estimates from the redesigned survey, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Special Report, U.S. Department of Justice, August 1995.

Bureau of Justice Statistics. National Crime Victimization Survey. Washington, DC: US Department of Justice, 1998.

George Mason University Sexual Assault Services web site. http://www.gmu.edu/facstaff/sexual/index.html

Missouri Revised Statues, Criminal Code. Sections 566.010-566.130 and 565.225.

National Center for Victims of Crime, 1992.

University of Vermont Sexual Assault and Rape Education Services. Sexual Assault, Sexual Harassment and Interpersonal Violence: Information & Resource Guide for Students and Survivors.

Washington University Police Department. Safety and Security on the Danforth Campus and Off-campus Properties. Updated annually.

Washington University Judicial Code.

YWCA Sexual Assault Response Team. Training Manual.

Sexual Assault Information Page: http://www.cs.utk.edu/~bartley/saInfoPage.html [this Web page no longer exists]

This web site provides a comprehensive collection of resources for female and male survivors of sexual assault, abuse, or harassment. It includes links to university resources, rape crisis centers, and health and safety information.

Sexual Assault Victims' Resources: http://mova.missouri.org/Topics/sapg.htm

This web site includes a rich collection of links to sexual assault related web sites, including links to sites addressing domestic violence and child sexual abuse.

Feminist Internet Gateway: Sexual Assault Resources: http://www.feminist.org/911/assaultlinks.html

This web site provides information for prevention and support survivors, including links to sites to support survivors in their healing process.

Bechhofer, L., & Parrot, A., (Eds.). (1991). Acquaintance rape: The hidden crime. New York: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Bohmer, C. & Parrot, A. (1993). Sexual assault on campus: The problem and the solution. New York: Lexington Books.

Brownmiller, S. (1975). Against our will: Men, women and rape. New York: Bantam Books.

Funk, R. (1993). Stopping rape: A challenge for men. Philadelphia, PA: New Society Publishers.

Johnson, K.M. (1998). If you are raped: What every woman needs to know. Holmes Beach, FL: Learning Publications, Inc.

Ledray, L. (1986). Recovering from rape. New York: Henry Holt and Co.

McEvoy, A.W. & Brookings, J.B. (1991). If she is raped: A guidebook for husbands, fathers and male friends. Holmes Beach, FL: Learning Publications, Inc.

Pirog-Good, M.A. & Stets, J.E. (Eds.). (1989). Violence in dating relationships: Emerging social issues. New York: Praeger Publishers.

Powell, E. (1991). Talking back to sexual pressure: What to say to resist pressure, to avoid disease, to stop harassment, to avoid acquaintance rape. Minneapolis, MN: CompCare Publishers.

Scarce, M. (1997). Male on male rape: The hidden toll of stigma and shame. New York, NY: Insight Books.

Warshaw, R. (1988). I never called it rape: The MS. report on recognizing, fighting and surviving date and acquaintance rape. New York: Harper & Row Publishers.