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University Resources and Support

You may choose to receive support from the many university resources available to you. Completely confidential counseling/support is available from the university pastoral team or the Health and Counseling Center.

Any student who believes he or she has witnessed or been the victim of discrimination, discriminatory harassment or sexual harassment, including any type of violence or sexual misconduct (e.g., sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual exploitation, or stalking), is urged to report the matter to the Title IX Coordinator or deputy coordinators. Reporting an incident ensures that you or the person who experienced the sexual misconduct gains access to appropriate supportive measures.

Should you choose to report something that has happened to you, it is still generally your choice in terms of whether or not you want to file a formal complaint that will initiate an official investigation.

Please note that all faculty, staff and administrators, as well as student resident assistants (RAs), are required to submit a notification to the Title IX coordinators or one of the deputy coordinators if someone discloses an incident of sexual misconduct or relationship violence to them.

Confidential On-Campus Resources

Medical/SANE Exam

If you have experienced a sexual assault, you are encouraged to first find a safe location and then to consider getting a sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE). You may choose to go to the emergency room at the local hospital and ask to be seen by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). We are committed to journeying with you through this process as much or as little as you would like. (Please note that there are trained individuals on campus as well as off-campus resource people who can provide support as requested.)

A sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE) is specially trained to conduct an examination after a sexual assault. Typically, these examinations should take place within 120 hours or five days, and they take approximately three hours to complete. If at all possible, it is best to avoid changing clothes, bathing, showering, using the restroom, cleaning up the area, or combing hair after the sexual assault. However, even if you have done any or all of these things, an examination can be vital to the health and well-being of the sexual assault survivor.

While the medical exam process is invasive, it is highly confidential and consists of several important elements.

First, a thorough interview is conducted where specific questions are asked about the rape. While it is always your choice as to which questions you want to answer, the more information the SANE has, the more thorough the record will be.

Second, a physical exam will be conducted that includes an examination and swabbing of the pelvic area and other areas of the body impacted by the assault. In addition, special lighting may be used to look for semen, saliva, or other fluids. Pictures will likely be taken, and the SANE will ask for any clothing worn during the assault.

Finally, blood or urine samples and possibly other evidence (such as nail clipping, hair samples, etc.) may be collected. All of the evidence will be included in a Sexual Assault Evidence Kit (SAEK), and it is always your choice as to whether to use the evidence immediately or at a later time.

A forensic exam can be performed without a report to law enforcement and evidence collected can be held for up to six months. This gives the survivor time to consider whether to report the incident to law enforcement. Normally, there is no cost to the survivor and it is not documented through the person’s health insurance.

Area Hospitals

The following is the contact information for law enforcement: