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Violence & Sexual Assault

If you need an advocate for an emergency, please call 916-278-3799.

Sexual Assault

What is sexual assault/sexual misconduct?

Sexual assault is any sexual act against a person’s will and/or without their complete knowledge and consent.  While the majority of rapes are committed by males against females as acts of vaginal penetration, the term "sexual assault" includes other acts of sexual violation, such as unwanted touching and/or molestation, assaults perpetrated against males, acts committed with foreign objects, forced oral copulation, forced sodomy.

At Sac State we have a Sexual Misconduct Policy
(http://www.csus.edu/umanual/student/UMS16525.htm)

which states that sexual exploitation of any kind is subject to student disciplinary action—even if the act does not meet the criteria for sexual assault under the California Penal Code. 

It doesn't matter if the victim was intoxicated at the time of the assault--it is still a crime! Also, it doesn't matter what you were wearing or what type of sexual behavior you have had in the past. In fact, it is illegal in the state of California to force your spouse to engage in sexual activity. It doesn't even matter what sexual acts you consented to prior to the assault--against your will is against the law.

It must be very clear that sexual assaults and sexual abuse are acts of violence and/or control occurring within a sexual arena or where sex is used as a weapon.

It is important to recognize that sexual assault is NEVER THE VICTIM'S FAULT! If you or a friend is a victim of sexual assault, it is important that you get help.

 

http://www.csus.edu/wrc/sacstate-images/trans.gifDecide to End Sexual Violence

  • Donate your time as a volunteer to your local rape crisis organization.
  • Donate money to your local, state and national rape crisis organizations.
  • Recognize that no one asks or deserves to be raped ever.
  • Don't blame rape victims for the violence perpetrated against them.
  • Know that silence does not equal consent.
  • Take responsibility for your own sexuality: don't let it be defined by your partner, the media or anyone else.
  • Don't use alcohol and/or drugs to get someone to have sex with you.
  • Participate in anti-rape events, such as No Woman Left Behind and Sexual Assault Awareness Month
  • Do not spend your money on video games, movies, music, or any advertised product that objectifies women and uses violence in association with sex as a marketing ploy.
  • Write letters to companies that do use sexual violence to market their product. Start a boycotting campaign.
  • Men: Become an ally to the women in your life-do not participate in sexist behavior by objectifying or stereotyping women.
  • Women: Take a women's self-defense class.
  • Teach your children, friends, parents and peers about the myths and realities of sexual assault.
  • Find out what your local K-12 school board's policy is on sexual violence prevention and anti-rape education and get involved. If it is not proactive, change it!
  • Lobby your local, state and federal legislators for funding for sexual assault victim support programs.
  • If you have been a victim of a sexual assault either by a stranger, acquaintance or an intimate, know there is help out there. Seek it.

 

What to Do If You've Been Assaulted

Your immediate safety is first. Try to go to a safe place.
Reach out for support. You deserve it.
Call the campus sexual assault advocate (916) 278-3799 or WEAVE at (916) 920-2952
Call someone you trust, like a friend or a member of your family.
Get medical attention as soon as possible. Your local rape crisis center can assist you with finding options. Medical care is important, in case you are injured and to protect against sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
Reporting to the police is your choice. If you decide not to go to the police right away, write down everything you remember about what happened and save it in case you change your mind.

If you want to file a police report

  • Report the crime to the law enforcement agency where the crime occurred. If the incident happened on campus or at a campus function, call the Sac State Police Dept at 278-6851.
  • It is recommended that you not shower or change clothes before going to the exam.
  • If forced oral sex occurred, try not to drink or smoke.
  • Even if you have already done any of these things, there may still be the chance to get evidence for your case. This should not stop you if you want to file a police report.
  • You may call a friend, family member or the police to take you to the emergency room. Bring a change of clothing.
  • The medical exam is an important part of the evidence collection needed to file a police report. It is important to have the exam as soon as possible.
  • You have the right to have an advocate come with you to any medical care and police or legal proceedings.
  • If you file a police report you can write down the officer's badge number and the case number.

Sexual Assault is Not Your Fault

You have the right to...

  • Be treated with respect, dignity and courtesy.
  • File a police report and receive services, no matter what your relationship is to the assailant.
  • Not be judged because of your race, age, class, gender, sexual orientation or occupation.
  • Have a sexual assault victim advocate come with you to medical, law enforcement and legal proceedings.
  • Privacy when meeting with a counselor or a police officer.
  • Understand any forms you are asked to sign.
  • Ask questions and get answers about any tests, exams, medications, treatments or police reports.
  • Be told of any necessary follow-up care and testing.
  • Voice complaints and expect to have them heard and accepted.

Reactions to Sexual Assault

As a survivor of sexual assault you may find yourself having some of the following feelings:

  • Anger
  • Fear
  • Embarrassment
  • Powerlessness
  • Depression
  • Self-blame and doubt
  • Isolation
  • Anxiety
  • Denial
  • Shame
  • These feelings are natural.

Remember:

You are not to blame for what happened. You are alive, you are a survivor and now is the time to begin the process of recovery. Reaching out for support is part of the healing process.

LGBT Survivors

LGBT survivors of violence often fear reaching out for help due to homophobia. The layers of oppression, bigotry and discrimination complicate a survivor's healing.

The LGBT survivor can expect the same range of emotional responses to assault as any heterosexual survivor. However, because of homophobia, discrimination, bigotry, and bias, there are issues that may negatively impact treatment, impeding the healing process, or in some cases, making the situation worse. Special concerns for the LGBT survivor include:

  • Insensitivity among social service/health care providers or law enforcement
  • Disbelief that the assault or abuse really occurred
  • Belief that same sex violence is "mutually combative"
  • Guilt or shame because of internalized oppression
  • Lack of support from friends or family
  • Fear of public disclosure.

No one should be forced to deal with sexual or relationship violence alone. Sexual orientation should not be perceived as a barrier to or further isolate the LGBT survivor. Contact our office for resources and accompaniment.

Intimate Partner Violence

What is intimate partner violence?

Intimate partner violence, otherwise known as domestic violence, is a crime in California. It can take many forms including physical, verbal, and sexual abuse. Although most assaults are made against women, others, including men, teenagers and same-sex couples can be victims of intimate partner violence.

  • 1 out of 3 women murdered in the U.S. is killed by their husband or boyfriend
  • intimate partner violence affects at least one out of every four American families.
  • Women ages 16 - 24 experience the highest per capita rates of intimate partner violence

You may be a victim of intimate partner violence, if you ...

  • Are frightened by your partner's temper
  • Do things you don't want to because you don't want to hurt your partner's feelings or make them mad
  • Apologize to other people for your partner's behavior
  • Have been hit, kicked or shoved by your partner
  • Go along with your partner's wishes because you are afraid they will get mad
  • Don't see friends or relatives because your partner told you not to
  • Think it is your fault when your partner treats you badly or hurts you
  • Have excessive calls or pages from your partner wanting to know your whereabouts at all times
  • Alter the way you act, dress, or socialize because of your partner's excessive jealousy

You may be abusing your partner, if you ...

  • Believe it is a man's job to be in charge of women
  • Have difficulty expressing feelings
  • Try to control your partner's behavior
  • Have broken things or thrown things at your partner
  • Hit, shoved or kicked your partner
  • Are very jealous
  • Have an explosive temper
  • Drink heavily or use drugs
  • Criticize and put down your partner a lot
  • Feel contempt and anger toward women

There is help available!

  • If you are a member of Sac State, you can contact our victim's advocate for information, referrals and support. Confidentiality is respected. We also offer resources for restraining orders.
  • You can also contact these community organizations:
    • Women Escaping A Violent Environment (WEAVE):
      (916) 920-2952. (crisis line)
    • Yolo County Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence Center:
      (530) 662-1133 or
      (916) 371-1907 (crisis lines)

Remember, intimate partner violence is a crime!


Report it to your local law enforcement. If you need assistance on campus, contact the Sac State Police Department at 278-6851.

What to do if a friend is in an intimate partner violent relationship?

Many of us know, or think we might know, a person who is in an abusive relationship. But we can always come up with reasons to ignore our discomfort and hope the problem will solve itself. Here are some common reasons why people don't break the silence on intimate partner violence:

"I might get hurt...or make this worse for the victim."

You do not need to physically intervene. And the only thing that can make this worse for the victim is for their torment to be ignored by those of us in a position to support them.

"If she/he wants to stay in such a lousy situation, that's her problem."

Victims are trapped in intimate partner violence by a number of factors: deep fear, lack of financial support, love, loyalty, cultural and family values, and the depression and hopelessness that constant abuse can cause. Also, victims know that abuse doesn't stop just because they leave. In fact, the danger increases for many victims when they do leave. Imagining that a person is free to leave any time absolves us, but does not help them. Nobody can make the personal and painful decisions for them, but you can be there to support them.

"Poking my nose in will cost me their friendship...and they doen't seem to want to talk about it."

Intimate partner violence could cost your friend their life. Talking about their situation isn't easy for either of you. They may fee shame and guilt, so you need to be tactful, open, and non-judgmental. They may not respond the first time. They has to decide what's safe and can't be rushed in to action. If they hear your open-ended offer to put them in contact with an intimate partner violence hotline when they choose, they'll fell safe coming back to you.

Here is an example of what to say.

It doesn't sound very dramatic, but it can make a dramatic difference: "I'm concerned about you. Are you okay? Do you want to talk to me about it? ... It's not your fault. You didn't deserve it ... I understand ... I'm not going to share this with anyone else. I'm not going to tell you what to do. What you do is fine with me. You know, there's a number to call to find out more about this. Do you want to call them now? Shall I give you the number? ... That's okay. Just know that I have the number, if you ever want it. I do care.

Are there things NOT to say?

It doesn't help to start planning a rescue or escape. Ask, rather than tell them what YOU think is going on. And don't start criticizing their partner, however much you may feel they deserve it. (The best way to show you are on their side is by staying out of the business of the relationship itself. If they were able to confront their abuser and leave, they would already have done it.) The idea is to gently break through the isolation they are living in and offer a bridge they can use when they choose to.

Stalking 

Stalking is a series of acts by another person that harasses you (for example repeated phone calls or repeated incidents of following you) and makes you fear for your safety. In California, it is a crime. Cyber stalking is a relatively newer form of harassment. This includes excessive emails or other electronic communications conveying threats.

  • Approximately 30% of college women report being victims of stalking
  • 81% of women who are stalked by a current or former boyfriend or husband were also physically assaulted by that partner
  • The average stalking case lasts 1.8 years

It is very important that you DO NOT make arrangements to meet the stalker!

Do not try to "talk sense" into them. Save all evidence (i.e. emails, voice messages, unused gifts) and present it to the police department. If you think you are a victim of stalking, please contact our office to speak with our victim's advocate. We can assist you with police reports and restraining orders if necessary, as well as help you obtain psychological counseling services.

Remember ... stalking is a crime!

Report it to your local law enforcement. If it happened on campus or involves campus personnel, contact the Sac State Police Department at 278-6851 or our advocate at 278-3799.

Sac State has a full-time victim's advocate. Our office is located in Health Services at The WELL; our advocate is on-call 24 hours a day. Confidentiality is always respected!

We can offer assistance in the following ways:

Reviewing your options

Many times if someone is a victim of a crime, they are confused about their options for reporting the crime, as well as what the pros and cons of reporting may be. Our advocate can discuss these options with you and assist you in making a decision that is best for you.

Assist in reporting the crime

If you want to report the crime to law enforcement, whether on campus or off campus, the advocate can accompany you during that process.

Be respectful of the survivor's decisions.

Often a survivor will not want to report the assault to the police. While you may not always agree with these types of decisions, respecting and supporting the survivor is very empowering. Supporting a survivor in this way enables her to feel in control of her life, a feeling that was taken away during the assault.

Assist in reporting to Student Affairs if the perpetrator is a student

You have the right to feel safe on campus, and harming another student is strictly against University policy. There are procedures that we can assist with though the Office of Student Affairs to ensure your safety.

Academic intervention

If you need academic intervention, we may be able to facilitate that so that you will experience minimal loss in academic standing.

Assist in obtaining counseling

After an assault, counseling is often a good idea. Our advocate can refer you for services and even accompany you to your first session if you would like.

Legal referral and assistance

We can help you obtain restraining orders, file Victim's Compensation forms, and accompany you to detective interviews, district attorney interviews, and even court proceedings.

Assist in obtaining medical care

Even if you do not report the crime to law enforcement, you will need medical care. We can assist in obtaining that medical care for your health and well-being.

Important Ways Family and Friends Can Help

Be clear that the rape or assault was not the survivor's fault.

No one ever asks to be raped or assaulted. Raping someone is a conscious decision made by the perpetrator. Even if the survivor exercises bad judgment, she/he did not deserve to be raped; no one does.

Believe the survivor.

Feeling that she is believed by family and friends is essential for a rape survivor's recovery. She has to overcome many obstacles to be able to speak out about what has happened. Allow the survivor to know you are open to hearing about her feelings and experiences. Although it may be painful for you to hear about what happened, letting the survivor know you are willing to enter those difficult places with her is important.

Do not question or judge what the survivor had to do to survive.

During a rape/sexual assault, victims are forced to make instant life threatening decisions. These decisions should not be criticized later. Survivors may not always scream or fight back. Their survival is evidence that they handled the assault the best way they could. Expressing to the survivor that you are thankful that she is alive enables her to feel more secure about her judgments.

Be respectful of the survivor's decisions.

Often a survivor will not want to report the assault to the police. While you may not always agree with these types of decisions, respecting and supporting the survivor is very empowering. Supporting a survivor in this way enables her to feel in control of her life, a feeling that was taken away during the assault.

Validate and protect the survivor's feelings: anger, pain, and fear.

These are natural responses to traumatic experiences. The survivor needs to express them, feel them, and be heard. Protecting the survivor's confidentiality or anonymity is an important step in gaining her trust.

Express your compassion.

If you are feeling outrage, compassion, or pain, share these emotions with the survivor. There is nothing more comforting than genuine human response. Be cautious, however, that your responses are not too overwhelming for the survivor. Often family and friends of survivors feel compelled to "go after" the perpetrator. These feelings are very real and very understandable. However, they can be channeled in more non-violent ways.

Encourage the survivor to get support.

In addition to offering your own caring, encourage her to reach out to others. You can help find someone with whom she can talk. (Rape crisis centers have sexual assault/rape counselors.) Similarly, you may have many feelings about the rape/assault. Consider getting support for yourself, too. You will need to take care of yourself in order to be supportive of the survivor.

Get help if the survivor is suicidal.

Most survivors are not suicidal, but sometimes the emotional pain of the assault/rape is so devastating that they may want to kill themselves. If you are close to a survivor who is suicidal, get immediate help for her.

Resist seeing the survivor as a victim.

Continue to see the person as a strong, courageous individual who is reclaiming her/his own life.

Accept that there may be changes in your relationship with the survivor.

The person you love is changing, and you may need to change in response. Patience on your part is crucial to her healing process. Healing is a slow process that cannot be hurried.

Educate yourself about sexual assault/rape and the healing process.

If you have a basic idea of what the survivor has experienced, it will help you be supportive. Talking with other survivors, supporters of survivors, and/or utilizing services designed to help survivors will help you gain knowledge.


Seek counseling for yourself. You are also a victim in some ways. The ripple effect of sexual assault extends to family members, friends, and even coworkers. Contact our sexual assault advocate for referrals regarding counseling.

Important Phone Numbers

Sac State Victim Advocate
(916) 278-3799

WEAVE'S 24 Hour Crisis Line
(916) 920-2952

SADVC, Yolo County
(530) 662-1133

University Police
(916) 278-6851

Housing and Residential Life
(916) 278-6655

Student Health & Counseling Services
(916) 278-6461

Employment Equity
(916) 278-3522

My Sister's House
www.my-sisters-house.org       
(916) 930-0626

24-Hour Help Line

(916) 428-3271