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Counseling, Psychological and Disability
Services
in the Center for Personal Development
Pearce Hall
(910) 630-7150
You don't deserve to be subjected to sexual acts against
your will. Sexual assault is an act of aggression and a
profoundly serious violation of person and community. Legally
it is a crime. Sexual assault—and specifically date
rape—will be dealt with as a serious violation of
campus standards.
Methodist University will not tolerate rape, sexual assault
or any form of non-consensual sexual activity.
If rape happens ...
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Go with your instincts. Depending on
the situation you may decide to run, scream, kick, hit
or bite.
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If you believe your life is in danger,
it is usually best not to resist.
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Remember: Every sexual assault situation
is different. Don't judge yourself for what you decide
to do or not to do.
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If you are forced to have sex against
your will, it is never your fault!!!
If you witness an assault
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Call Campus Police (7577) at once! If rape
occurs off campus, call 911.
After an assault ...
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Call Methodist University Police and
Public Safety at 7577. If you are off campus call 911.
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You may want to have an advocate to
support you and help you through the process.
[(910) 630-7150] on the Methodist University staff has
been trained to assist as victims advocates. Police
and Public Safety Officers will help you contact these
women after hours. You may prefer to call Rape Crisis
(485-RAPE) for more anonymous assistance.
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You may request that a female officer
be present. All officers are well trained but you may
feel more comfortable with a woman present.
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You do not have to press charges. It
is hard to make this decision while in crisis. It is
best to take precautions to preserve the evidence. After
the worst is over, you may feel that you want to press
charges in order to help to protect other victims.
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To preserve the evidence, do not wash
yourself or change your clothes. If the assault happens
in your room, leave your room just like it is.
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You will be taken to the hospital for
treatment, prevention of disease and collection of evidence.
Take a change of clothes with you, as your clothes will
be kept as evidence.
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You may request that an Advocate from
Rape Crisis meet you at the hospital and stay with you
for support. The Victims Assistance program is available
for victims who do not have medical insurance.
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A victim will be given assistance in
changing academic and/or living situations after a sexual
assault, if necessary.
Dealing with the offender
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An issue that may be decided later is how
to deal with the rapist. If the offender is a stranger,
the student may decide to press charges or to avoid the
courts. If the offender is a member of the campus, one option
is to bring the Dean of Students into a conversation with
the victim's advocate and the offended student. Together
a decision is made as to how best to proceed, keeping in
mind that the offended student continues to have the final
say in the decision. Some possible options open to the victim
are:
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File criminal charges in public court.
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Confront the offender in the presence
of the Dean of Students but take no further action.
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File charges in the student court.
Examples of court actions are:
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suspension or expulsion from college
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referral for psychological evaluation
with clear expectations that the offender will follow
through on recommendations of the therapist.
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Ignore the offender but seek counseling
to deal with the consequences of the act.
Remember both the accuser and the accused
are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present
during a campus disciplinary hearing. Both shall be informed
of the outcome of the proceeding.
There are people who care
and are trained to help ...
Call Darlene Hopkins
at the Center for Personal Development (7150) or come to
the Center for Personal Development in Pearce Residence
Hall. Anyone who has been through sexual assault,whether
recently or in the distant past, deserves the chance to
talk about the awful experience and get help in dealing
with the feelings. Get the help you deserve.
Call Rape Crisis at 485-RAPE (485-7273). Rape
Crisis volunteers are trained to provide you with emotional
support and advocacy through medical, legal and law enforcement
systems and courtroom procedures.
Encourage your family and/or close friends
who have been affected by your assault to talk it over with
a counselor. A trained, objective counselor can help them
to come to terms with what happened to you. Such help is
available at both the Center for Personal Development and
Rape Crisis.
Acquaintance Rape Prevention
Rape is not the victim's fault. It is not
sex, it is violence. Nobody asks for or deserves rape. Victims
do not cause rape. Rapists cause rape. Submission to a rapist
out of fear is not consent and does not imply faflure on
the part of the victim.
Advice for Women
- Say NO when you mean NO; say Yes when you mean Yes.
Use eye contact and tone of voice to show you mean what
you say. When you feel threatened by either a stranger
or an acquaintance put yourself above rules of etiquette
and social norms. Be willing to make a scene, if necessary,
to get out of a troubling encounter.
- Trust your instincts. Be aware of specific situations
in which you do not feel relaxed and in charge.
- Don't go off alone with someone you don't know. Make
decisions for yourself. Decide in advance what you will
tolerate. Set limits and take steps to cut off interactions
that exceed them.
- Be aware of female stereo types that prevent you from
expressing yourself, such as "anger is un-feminine,"
or "being passive is feminine." Don't allow
yourself to be trapped by them.
- Be alert to what is going on around you. Avoid secluded
places and unfamiliar nightspots.
- Drugs and alcohol decrease your ability to take care
of yourself and decreases your date's inhibitions and
self control. Be careful.
- Support your friends by not pressuring them when they
are unsure about a situation. If a friend asks you to
leave with her from a party because she is uncomfortable,
help her out.
- Be aware of your feelings and express them assertively.
Advice for Men
- It's never OK to force yourself on a woman, even if
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you think she's been teasing and
leading you on,
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you paid for the date,
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she asked you out,
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you have heard the woman say No
but mean Yes,
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you think it is "manly"
to use force or coercion to get your way,
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or you think that she will expect
some force or coercion.
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Whenever a woman is forced, against
her will, to submit to unwanted sexual relations, it
is rape—and not a successful seduction by a lover,
friend, neighbor, acquaintance, or stranger.
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Be aware of stereotypes that set you
up into acting in forceful or coercive ways, such as
"aggressive behavior is masculine." Don't
get trapped by these roles.
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Be honest: Communicate what you want
honestly, assertively, and respectfully. That means
speaking your needs and listening to other person's
needs.
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Remember ... NO means NO.
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Be aware that "force" can
be emotional coercion and intimidation as well as physical
force.
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If a woman is unable to give consent
(i.e., is drunk) it is still rape.
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You don't always have to be "in
charge" or make all the decisions.
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Physical affection does not always have
to lead to sex.
Much more information about a variety of concerns is available.
You may make an appointment or a request for more information
by
You also might want to check out our virtual
pamphlet collection link.
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Center for Personal Development
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