Students should speak up about sexual assault
Sexual assault is something no one should have to experience. Child sexual assault is inappropriate, traumatizing and stressful. Yet, an average of 293,066 people, age 12 and older, are sexually assaulted each year in the United States. Sexual assault is a big deal on college campuses across the world, including at the University of South Dakota.
Be Informed
Sexual assault is not limited to only rape. According to The Department of Justice, “Sexual assault is any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape.”
If you are forced into any sexual contact with anyone, it is considered sexual assault. Both males and females can be victims of sexual assault. One in six women will be a victim of sexual assault in their lifetime, while one in 33 men will be a victim. Seventy-three percent of sexual assault victims were perpetrated by someone they knew and twenty-eight percent of victims were perpetrated by a partner. No matter your gender or situation, reporting the incident is necessary.
Reporting is a must
If you have been sexually assaulted, it is very important that you come forward and report the incident. Less than seventy percent of sexual assault incidents are reported. I strongly believe that every incident should be reported for many reasons.
These perpetrators should be stopped and punished for their acts. Reporting raises awareness to others about the threat and occurrence of the situation, alerts others in the area who may be at risk, helps the victim with the healing process and opens doors to resources for the victim to help with both the healing and legal processes. If you’re too nervous to go to the authorities, talk to someone you trust and are comfortable with. Perhaps if they live close by, they can go with you to the authorities. No one should ever feel they are doing this alone so having someone with you to support you is a good idea.
The sooner you report, the better. By doing so shortly after the incident, you will be able to provide a more accurately detailed statement, giving more evidence to be considered in the case. Actions to protect you will also be taken sooner, helping to ensure your safety and support throughout the process.
As far as your privacy, it is no issue especially if you express this concern with the authorities and the university. The only time anyone should know you are the victim is if you tell them. The university does a great job of keeping the details confidential.
The university should be required to make a press release informing faculty and all students living on or off campus when a sexual assault occurs. The perpetrator can be a threat to others even in an isolated case. There’s no excuse for not notifying the public of the situation at hand.
My Story
As a victim of sexual assault at USD, I can reassure you that reporting the incident is helpful in many ways. By reporting the incident, I was able to receive support from the University of South Dakota Police Department, Dean of Students Kim Grieve and Title IX representative Roberta Hackl. I reported the incident less than 24 hours after it occurred. At this point, I had already told my parents and two close friends, one of which came with me to report. I was asked many questions about the incident and then asked to file a detailed written statement.
The university was then notified of the situation and I was called by Grieve to speak with her about the incident where I was asked questions again. Both parties recommended I speak with a counselor and I was also told that because sexual assault is so serious and traumatizing, I could be immediately referred to and seen by a counselor because it was considered an emergency.
Action was taken immediately to inform my perpetrator that he was not to have contact with me nor enter my residence hall for any matters. I felt that this was exceptionally comforting because had he not obliged to this, I was allowed to call the police and he would have been removed and disciplined as necessary. Though I was still paranoid, it was a bit of a relief that helped me to feel a little bit safer. My RAs and residence hall director were also notified of the circumstances to protect me as well as keep an eye on me for my mental safety. Again, I took comfort in knowing that there were immediate measures taken to help me feel safer.
Through counseling here on campus, I have been able to get help mentally processing the event and the trauma that I have experienced. I also have completed weekly surveys to evaluate the anxiety related to the post-traumatic stress of the event. Talking about the event, how I am doing and processing, and where the case is at has helped me to come to terms quicker and allowed me to reduce the stress and anxiety I am feeling. I believe it is important to talk about the event with someone you can trust so you don’t hold in your emotions and put your mental health at greater risk.
I was also given pamphlets, booklets, and crisis line phone numbers to help me learn about the healing and the legal process. The resource I found most helpful so far has been Domestic Violence Safe Options Services located right here in Vermillion. Though I just recently met with one of their coordinators, I was able to share my story, receive more pamphlets, and get a rundown on the legal side of things. I was also informed that they can have someone from their organization come with me to any meetings about the sexual assault so that I felt safe and supported and would have someone with me who’s familiar with the process.
There are so many benefits to reporting sexual assault that I hope this encourages others to come forward in the future. It can be scary and police are sometimes intimidating to talk to, but it’s worth it. You will feel protected, supported and safer after reporting. Step up, speak up, speak out and raise awareness about sexual assault.
