Sexual Assault Response Tips for RAs and HDs 

As a member of residence hall staff, you are a highly visible and trusted person in your community. Residents will look up to you for advice and seek you out as a resource. They might also come to you in times of crisis. One such crisis that many RAs and HDs are not always prepared to deal with is sexual assault. This handout will provide some basic tips and information about how to help a survivor of sexual assault. However, it cannot and does not address every aspect of every situation. If you have further questions, please contact the Office of Victim Assistance (2-8855). 

1. Safety. If the resident feels that he/she is in immediate danger, call CUPD (2-6666).
2. Medical. Following a sexual assault, a survivor may want to have a medical exam. This is important, and medical exams can be performed many places.  If the survivor wants a forensic exam, however, in order to preserve evidence, a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) nurse must do the exam.  This takes place at St. Anthony's North Hospital in Westminster.  The survivor need not have decided whether he or she wishes to report the sexual assault to the police in order to get this exam.  However, the police will be notified since they take the evidence and store it.  A SANE exam is best performed within the first 72 hours, and the sooner the better.  But sometimes an exam can be performed a week or even 2 weeks after the sexual assault and evidence may still be present.  Remember, you cannot transport a resident to a medical facility!
3. Supervisor:  You must notify your supervisor immediately.
4. Confidentiality/Reporting:  You cannot promise confidentiality. Explain to the resident that you must notify your hall director and that you or your hall director is required to notify CUPD.  The idea of reporting to CUPD is likely to be upsetting to the resident.  It is important to let the resident know that even though a report must be made, there is no requirement for him/her to move forward with criminal charges. Assure the resident that you will not disclose the information to anyone who does not need to know (such as friends, other residents, other RAs, etc.). Your hall director will work with victim advocates to help the resident find out about all of his/her options (medical, emotional, legal, campus, academic, etc.).  Victim Advocates can be paged and come on site 24 hours/day from OVA or MESA for support, information, and accompaniment. 
   

Here are some confidential services to offer:

1. Office of Victim Assistance: 2-8855 (during business hours an advocate can be called on our emergency cell phone at 303-818-0590)
2. MESA 24-hour victim advocate hotline: 303-443-7300
3. Counseling and Psychological Services: 2-6766
4. Psychological Health & Psychiatry (Wardenburg): 2-5654

 

5. Listen. One of the most important ways to support a survivor is to listen to him/her without judging or blaming. Remember that, no matter what the circumstances, no one deserves to be sexually assaulted.
6. Defining/Labeling. Allow the survivor to talk about his/her experience. Do not define the experience for him/her (“That’s rape!”). Regardless of the legal definition, if they had a bad experience, they need to speak with someone who will listen.
7. Reassure. Some things to offer to the survivor to reassure him/her that he/she acted appropriately under the circumstances: I am sorry this happened. I am glad you survived/are here/got through it. Cooperation is not consent. People do not deserve to be forced to be sexual.
8. Choice and Control. Do not try and take control of the situation. Most importantly, do not try and do something to “fix” the situation. Instead, let the survivor make his/her own decisions, but encourage reaching out to a professional to help determine his/her options.
9. Individuality. Understand that each survivor of sexual assault responds uniquely to the assault. Some common reactions may include shock, fear, embarrassment, guilt, anger, depression, and/or feeling overwhelmed. People go through a process after these events and feel differently at different times (i.e., want to talk, want to do other things, want to pursue various options). Let them know you are available.
10. Support. Help them get support from their friends, family, spiritual leaders, professionals and others. Support is a key element in the recovery process.
11. Tomorrow. Help the person think through what they are going to do for the next 24 hours. It is difficult to think during a crisis.
12. Take care of yourself. Resources that are available to survivors are also available to you. Consider talking with someone safe (your hall director, a counselor, or victim advocate) to process your feelings and to help you support survivors more effectively.