What is Sexual Assault?
- A sexual assault has been committed when an individual engages in sexual activity without the explicit consent of the individual involved.
- All forms of sexual misconduct, including any form of unwanted sexual contact and/or exploitation
- "Unwanted" means against a person's wishes or without consent and includes those instances in which the individual is coerced or unable to give consent because of:
- sleep
- unconsciousness
- impairment or intoxication
- A "no" or absence of resistance is not required to prevent sexual contact; whereas a verbal or nonverbal "yes" is required to permit sexual contact
- Consent may be withdrawn at any time during the sexual act
Examples of Sexual Assault:
- A date insists that you have sex ----- even though you have said you do not want to
- Your significant other forces you to have sex; a current or previous dating or marital relationship does not constitute consent
- Someone gets you drunk in order to have sex with you
Important Facts
- It is never the survivor's fault
- A survivor's behavior is irrelevant, including his/her dress. No one deserves, asks for, or provokes sexual assault
- It is estimated that as many as 1 in 4 college women will be sexually assaulted during their college years
- Recent statistics indicate that 10% of sexual assault survivors are men
- Sexual assault is a crime of dominance, control, and power, not love
- Sexual assault is a violent and aggressive act. Sexual assault is not a sexual act
- Using alcohol or drugs is not an excuse for sexual assault
- Submission out of fear is not consent, and does not imply failure on the part of the survivor
- Survivors may experience after effects as a result of sexual assault, and individual reactions may vary
What do I do if I am sexually assaulted?
A victim of a sexual assault should:
- Get to a safe place and call someone you trust.
- Call Public Safety at 888-2330. This will alert Public Safety to the offense, who in turn can contact other resources. Victims may also contact the Buffalo Police at 911 or 851-4494.
- Get medical attention immediately.
It is extremely important that the victim seek medical attention immediately. In addition to treating injuries, a prompt medical examination will test for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. A medical examination can secure valuable evidence that can be used later should the victim wish to have the assailant prosecuted. If requested, someone will accompany the victim to the hospital.
The victim shouldn’t drink, bathe, douche, brush teeth, change clothing or comb hair. It’s only natural to want to do these things, but doing so may destroy evidence. In the course of the medical examination, the hospital staff will collect this evidence. If changing clothes is necessary, clothing worn during the assault should be placed in a bag. - Seek counseling.
Regardless of whether the assault is reported, it is often helpful to seek counseling for a traumatic experience. The Counseling Center(888-2620), Health Services (888-2610), Campus Ministry (888-2420), or off-campus, Crisis Services (834-3131) are good sources of support. - Document the incident.
A victim, as soon as possible, should write down every detail about the incident, including: who, what, when, where, and how.
• At the first opportunity, the above information should be brought to the attention of the Public Safety or one of the resources listed below.
• If the Buffalo Police Department is to be involved and criminal charges filed, the above information is crucial. - Decide how to proceed.
The decision to prosecute the suspect and/or initiate internal judicial proceedings lies with the victim.
What are my options when reporting a sexual assault?
Call Public Safety at 888-2330. This will alert Public Safety to the offense, who in turn can contact other resources. Victims may also contact the Buffalo Police at 911 or 851-4494.
***Please note: When a sexual assault is reported to Public Safety, Public Safety will contact the Buffalo Police Department.
Anonymous Reporting
If the victim does not want to pursue action within the College system or the criminal justice system at this time, she/he may still want to consider having an anonymous report made. A member of the Counseling Center (888-2620), Health Services (888-2610) or Campus Ministry (888-2420) can report the details of the incident to the Department of Public Safety without revealing the identity of the victim. The purpose of an anonymous report is to comply with the victim’s wish to keep the matter private while taking steps to ensure future safety for the victim and others. With such information, the College can keep accurate records about the number of assaults involving students, determine whether there is a pattern of assaults with regard to particular location, method, or assailant, and alert the campus community to potential danger.
What on-campus resources are available to help me?
On Campus Resources
Counseling Center
888-2620
Bosch Hall 105
Campus Ministry
888-2420
Old Main 208
Student Health Services
888-2610
Frisch Hall 001 (tunnel level)
Public Safety
888-2330
Bosch Hall (tunnel level)
Office of Residence Life
888-8300
Dugan Hall (tunnel level)
Office of Student Affairs
888-2130
Old Main 102
What are some of the community resources available?
Crisis Services
(716) 834-3131 (24-Hour Emergency Mental Health Services)
- Crisis Services is staffed 24 hours a day by trained volunteers who are able to connect with professional counselors for emergency outreach. Crisis services will send a counselor to meet you in the emergency room.
Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network
http://www.rainn.org/
Hospital Emergency Departments
1. Erie County Medical Center
462 Grider St., Buffalo
898-3161 Directions
2. Buffalo General Hospital
100 High St., Buffalo
859-7100 Directions
3. Sisters of Charity Hospital
2157 Main St., Buffalo
862-1800 Directions
4. Women & Children’s Hospital
219 Bryant St., Buffalo
878-7408 Directions
How do I help a friend who has been sexually assaulted?
If a friend tells you he/she was sexually assaulted and turns to you for support, the following are some tips to guide your response:
First and foremost, support him/her. More than anything else, your friend needs you to validate the emotional reactions he/she is experiencing. Talk, listen, respect, and be emotionally available.
Assure him/her it was not their fault. No matter what they said, wore, or where they were, they did not ask for or desire to be assaulted.
Accept the individual’s choice of what to do. Ask what is needed, help identify options, and encourage independent decision-making, even if you may disagree.
Be Patient. Try not to rush the healing process or “make it better.” Encourage the individual to seek professional help (see On Campus Resources)
If the assault occurred recently, attend to the individual’s immediate medical needs. Also, remind the individual to save clothing they were wearing, not to shower or bathe, or to remove any physical evidence.
Seek support for yourself. It may be overwhelming to deal with your own emotional response in addition to the friend’s. If you have strong/angry feelings or feelings of blame toward the victim, talk to someone else about this.
For the romantic partner of the survivor: Pace the intensity of involvement, especially sexual contact, touching, holding. Ask permission before touching or holding the survivor.
How do I reduce my risk of being sexually assaulted?
Reduce Your Risk of Becoming a Victim of Date or Acquaintance Rape:
Say “no” when you mean no. Communicate your limits clearly. Know what you are feeling, and express yourself clearly.
Be assertive. Passivity might be misinterpreted as permission. Be direct and firm with someone who is pressuring you sexually. If someone starts to offend you, respond promptly and firmly. Overly polite approaches might be misunderstood or ignored.
Trust your intuition. If you feel you are being pressured into unwanted sexual relations, don’t hesitate to express your unwillingness, even if it might appear rude. Leave the situation as soon as possible.
Have a plan for getting home! When you are away from home, be prepared to be able to leave the situation if necessary. Coordinate plans with friends and arrange transportation. Always carry money for a cab or have someone you can call for transportation.
Attend large parties with friends you can trust. Agree to look out for one another.
Avoid excessive use of alcohol and drugs. Alcohol and drugs interfere with clear thinking, effective communications and your ability to respond in your own best interest.
Recovering from Sexual Assault is a Process
Everyone experiences trauma in their own unique and personal way. It is important for you to understand that any feelings you may be experiencing after being sexually assaulted are completely normal and temporary reactions to a traumatic event. In time, fear and confusion will diminish, yet the trauma may disrupt your life for a while.
Responses and reactions may be brought on by people, places, or things connected to the assault, or they may happen suddenly and unexpectedly. Talking about the assault can be helpful, but this may be very difficult as well. Actually, most survivors find they want to avoid and escape conversations and situations that may remind them of the assault. Survivors of an assault may experience a sense of wanting to move forward, to get on with life, and ignoring the past. This is a normal part of the recovery process and may last for weeks or months. Talking with someone who can listen in an understanding and affirming way will help you through this process; whether it's a friend, member of your place of worship or community, family member, hotline-staff member, or a counselor. In order to heal and regain a sense of control over your life, it may be helpful to address your fears along with other feelings you are experiencing in response to the assault.
Since recovering from a sexual assault is a gradual process that is different for everyone, survivors may have different needs and exercise different coping strategies. It is very important to remember that there is not a set timeline for your healing process; however long it takes is ok. There can be many decisions to be made and many feelings to be expressed. Not all of the decisions or feelings will need to be handled at once. This is a part of the recovery process, and everyone goes through this process differently.
This is a summary of some common stages and feelings of the recovery process that some, not all, survivors of a sexual assault may go through.
• “I just want to forget what happened.” You may go from feeling emotionally drained, confused, and out of control to trying to forget what happened. You may begin distancing yourself from the sexual assault and outwardly appear recovered, but friends and family members' support is still needed.
• “I'm so angry and depressed. I can't seem to get control of my emotions”. Regardless of how hard you try to keep the sexual assault from impacting your life, no matter how much you may deny its importance, the experience has had a profound influence. You may experience anger, depression, shame, anxiety, and feel that everything is falling apart. Recurring nightmares and flashbacks are common during this time. Depression may cause a change in sleeping or eating patterns, and anger may be directed at the perpetrator, loved ones, or yourself. It may be difficult, at first, to feel comfortable with intimacy, including trusting people, exploring new relationships, and enjoying sexual activity, if you choose to be sexually active. Understand that this may take time. Resist being pressured to be sexually active before you are ready. Many survivors seek assistance from trained professionals who can help to put their lives back together and recover from stress related to the assault.
• “Life goes on and I can handle it.” You have resolved a lot of the anger and depression. The sexual assault may have changed your life, but it now plays a smaller role. You feel more in control.
• Get support from friends, family, and community members. Try to identify people you trust who will validate your feelings and affirm your strengths.
• Talk about the assault and express feelings. Choose when, where, and with whom to talk about the assault, and only disclose information that feels safe for you to reveal.
• Use stress-reduction techniques. Exercise by jogging, doing aerobics, walking and practice relaxation techniques such as doing yoga, listening to music, praying and meditating.
• Maintain a balanced diet and a normal sleep cycle as much as possible and avoid overusing stimulants like caffeine, sugar, nicotine, or alcohol or other drugs.
• Discover your playful and creative self. Playing and creativity are important for healing from hurt.
• Take time outs. Give yourself permission to take quiet moments to reflect, relax, and rejuvenate, especially during times you feel stressed or unsafe.
• Try reading. Reading can be a relaxing and healing activity.
• Consider writing or journaling as a way of expressing your thoughts and feelings.
Men Who Have Experienced Sexual Assault/Abuse
How does the College Respond to Reported Incidents?
The decision to report the perpetrator to the police and/or initiate internal judicial proceedings lies with the victim.
Judicial Process –External
If the victim wishes to file a report with the police, the police and the district attorney’s office will handle the legal proceedings.
Judicial Process – Internal
If the perpetrator is a member of the College community, the victim also has the option to file a complaint through the College’s disciplinary systems. Any campus proceeding will be handled with sensitivity and with respect for confidentiality. Both the complainant and the respondent are entitled to have an advisor present during the hearing. At the conclusion of the internal judicial hearing, both the complainant and the respondent shall be informed of the outcome (decision and sanction) of the hearing. Detailed procedures concerning campus disciplinary hearings, including the rights of the complainant and respondent are available in the Community Standards found in the Student Handbook or click on Canisius College Community Standards
Whether the victim chooses the external and/or internal process, a College representative will be available for support.