Sexual Assault Resource Center

Student Brochure - What You Can Do... If You or A Friend is Sexually Assaulted

Support a friend

If someone that you know is sexually assaulted, there are several important ways in which you can be helpful:

1. Be a supportive listener: Try to listen without judging. Recognize how difficult it can be for your friend to talk about the experience.
2. Provide information and resources: Be aware that a survivor of assault may need medical, psychological, and legal assistance. Become familiar with the resources discussed in this pamphlet, and keep the information for a reference.
3. Let the survivor make the decisions about how to proceed: After an assault, it is important to gain back a sense of control over one’s environment, and one’s body. Although it is important to suggest that the person receive medical attention, preserve evidence, seek crisis counseling, and report the incident to police, these decisions must be made by the survivor, not for the survivor.
4. Seek assistance for yourself: If someone close to you is sexually assaulted, you may also experience an intense emotional reaction. Talking to someone can help you sort out your own reactions and better prepare you to help the person you care about. The University Counseling Center (442-5800) provides consultation as well as counseling. Support is also available from the Sexual Assault Resource Center (442-5800), the Crime Victim and Sexual Violence Center (447-7100), and from the Middle Earth Crisis Line (442-5777).

Note that behaviors which do not meet the definitions above might still constitute Harassment, Sexual Harassment, or Threatening or Abusive Behavior (see CRR booklet for further information).