Counseling Services
The single most important thing you can do after being raped or assaulted is organize support for yourself. Date, or acquaintance rape, is a violation of your body and your trust, and it is important to take it seriously. This involves talking to someone a friend, rape crisis counselor, RD, chaplain, or police about the incident.
Counseling Services is available to help you in any way you need, and we can be contacted 24 hrs. a day in the event of an emergency. To contact a counselor after hours, page the Health Center's on-call nurse, and explain your emergency, and she will put you in contact with a counselor. You can also contact Public Safety at any time and ask to be connected to a counselor. In addition to providing counseling we can also act as your advocate and are available to accompany you to the hospital, or be present with you should you decide to speak with the police. Be assured that Counseling Services will respect your privacy and maintain your confidentiality. Don't isolate yourself and don't just try to ignore it. Your emotional health is important. If you call our office during regular business hours, don't hesitate to let the secretary know that you have an emergency and need to see someone as soon as possible.
You may contact the Health Center at any time and one of our nurses will return your call as soon as possible if it is outside of normal office hours. The nurse can assist you in arranging for whatever you need, including emergency medical care and emotional support.
The college's Public Safety Office can also be contacted at anytime , and they can assist you in arranging for medical and emotional assistance. The Public Safety Office can assist you in contacting the local law enforcement personnel. Also, 24-hour services are available at local rape crisis centers, easily identified in the blue or yellow pages of the phone book. All of these services are available to you at no charge. If you would like to speak to
someone off campus, a good place to begin would be the YWCA Rape Crisis Line. They can be reached any time of day or night at 238-7273.
Because sexual assault and rape can be violent acts, medical attention should be sought as soon after the incident as possible. Although it may be difficult to make decisions when you are upset, for your health it is important that you go to the emergency room at the nearest hospital. Medical attention can help identify any internal injuries and allay fears of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.Don't change your clothes, shower, douche or apply medication before going to the hospital. If you have already taken your clothes off, place them in a paper (not plastic) bag and bring them to the hospital. These guidelines ensure that evidence can be gathered and preserved in case you decide to prosecute. Also, if possible, take a change of clothes with you to the hospital.
Seeking medical attention does not mean that you have to press charges or talk to the police. However, if you choose to press charges later , the evidence will be there. The hospital may have to notify the police, but that does not mean that you must prosecute or even speak with a police officer. If you wish to talk to a police officer, you will be given that opportunity.
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To learn more, please browse our information on Date Rape:
To learn more, please browse our Self Help resources:
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