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First and foremost: If you have immediate questions
about sexual assault and/or feel like you or someone you know is in
danger, please call:
Brandeis Rape Crisis Hotline (24 hrs, 781-845-HELP), Boston Area Rape Crisis Center (24 hrs, 617-492-RAPE), Brandeis Police (emergency line, 24 hrs, x63333), or SSIS (M-F 12-5pm, x63695)
If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted...
First, get to a safe place. Then contact someone whom you trust
and who can help you.
Do not shower, bathe, douche, brush your teeth, drink or eat, smoke,
or change clothes (if you choose to change clothes, keep the clothes
from the incident in separate paper bags and bring them with you if
you choose to get medical or police help).
Remember: no one asks to be raped. Rape by definition
entails a lack of consent. It is not your fault.
The vast majority of sexual assault victims know their assailant. Acquaintance
rape ("date rape") is just as serious as "stranger rape".
In the Brandeis Rights and Responsibilities Handbook,
the definition of sexual assault is as follows: "A student is expected
and required to: refrain from sexual misconduct. Sexual contact that
occurs without the explicit consent of each student involved may be
considered sexual misconduct. Consent must be clearly communicated,
mutual, non-coercive, and given free of force or the threat of force.
A student who is physically or mentally incapacitated by drugs, alcohol,
or other circumstances is not capable of giving consent. A student must
be fully conscious and awake in order to give consent" (section
2.2).
Here are some things to consider:
Medical Help
We strongly recommend that every victim of sexual assault receive
immediate medical attention. A specific sexual assault examination addresses
your medical needs, as well as the collection of evidence that may be
useful should you decide to report the crime and press charges. You
are under no obligation to prosecute even if you have the sexual assault
exam. Also, you should consider being tested for pregnancy, sexually
transmitted diseases and AIDS. Medical evidence can be collected up
to 72 hours after an assault.
There is a group of nurses trained in the needs of sexual assault victims.
These nurses are available at hospitals.
The Police
Sexual assault is a crime. It is your decision whether or not to
file a police report. If you decide to report the assault, the report
should be filed with the police department in the city/town/college
where the assault occurred, or with the State Police.
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