If you or someone you know is a victim/survivor of assault, it is important to take the necessary steps to get help. After the assault, encourage the individual to:
- Get to a place that is safe from further attack.
- Call the La Verne Police Department.
- Contact Project Sister.
- Report the incident to University of La Verne.
- Seek medical attention.
- Call a family member or someone they trust.
- Preserve any possible evidence.
- Go to the nearest hospital emergency room as soon as possible to be examined, treated for any injuries, and screened for possible sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or pregnancy. The S.A.R.T. Nurse will collect evidence using a rape kit for fibers, hairs, saliva, semen, or clothing that the attacker may have left behind.
Reporting Assault to Police
University of La Verne encourages all members of the campus community who experience any form of sexual violence to report such incidents to any campus representative. The decision to file a report with any local law enforcement agency lies within the discretion of the survivor. Whether or not a survivor chooses to report the incident to law enforcement, there is support and help for the survivor. The Student Health Center, Counseling and Psychological Services Center, Dean of Students, or the local rape crisis center will explain the options and alternatives available to the survivor including, but limited to:
- Filing a police report
- Disciplinary options available within the University;
- Alternative housing assignments in cases involving University housing
- Academic and job-related assistance
Help a Friend Who Has Been Assaulted
- Resist seeing survivors as victims. Believe the survivor.
- Listen attentively and empathically to what they are saying – stay calm, be patient, and non-judgmental. Let them tell you in their own words.
- Don’t ask for details or specifics. Don’t Pry.
- Validate the survivor’s feelings: their anger, pain, and fear.
- Encourage the survivor, family, and significant others to seek professional help.
- Be clear that the rape was not the survivor’s fault.
- Accept that there may be changes in your relationship with the survivor.
- Get support with your own feelings.
- Be gentle, patient, and sensitive. Respect the time and space it takes to heal.