Sexual Assault

Translation: If you partner does not verbally or nonverbally say "YES," back off.  Never assume your partner is willing to have sex.  Sex without consent is sexual assault.

If you do not say “YES,” and your partner does not back off, what happens next is not just “bad sex” – it is sexual assault.

• What We Know

  • “Within the last 12 months: 2% of college students had sex without giving their consent (NCHA data set from Spring 2011; total number of participants was 105,781 students from 129 different campuses.)”
  • “1 in 5 college women will be sexually assaulted during their college experience.”

• What Can We Do?

  • Before going out make a plan with a friend about getting home.
  • Make a pact that you will stay together and designate someone to be the social monitor or the “pact keeper.”
  • Set a limit on number of drinks that you or your friends will consume.
  • Have a list of phone numbers for ways to get home (including local taxis) or download the Circle of 6 app to your phone.

• Take Action

  If you think you’re witnessing a sexual assault

  • Spill your drink to cause a distraction.
  • Remove your friend from the situation.
  • Get friends of both parties to help break up the situation.
  • Make a fake phone call to the person.

  If you think a fellow Hoosier has been assaulted

  • Personally take him/her home or remove them from the situation.
  • Ask your friend what they want to do next.  Encourage them to seek out resources, but be sure to be understanding and allow him/her to make his/her own decisions.  Do not value or judge, as you may unintentionally blame your friend, which can also re-victimize him/her.  
  • Encourage your friend to seek medical attention.  The IU Health hospital in Bloomington where he/she can have a test done.  He/she can ask specifically for a medical exam or a sexual assault test and should ask specifically for a drug test if he/she thinks that a drug may have been involved.. This should ideally be done within 72 hours of the assault, but the sooner, the better.  He/she does not have to pursue any charges at that time and can do so at a later date. 
  • Talk to him/her about talking to a counselor at the Sexual Assault Crisis Service office on campus.  This office offers free counseling to survivors of sexual assault.
  • Confidential Victim Advocates in the Office for Sexual Violence Prevention and Victim Advocacy can help answer any questions you have as well as help you navigate the process of reporting, or getting support or resources.
  • Let your friend know they can report a sexual assault to the Office of Student Conduct or to the the IU Police Department.  While this may be scary, these resources can connect students with support and provide an avenue for charging students through the IU student code of conduct or potentially through the legal system.