SAASA
(Students Acting Against Sexual Assault)

Co-Director: May-Ling Gonzales
mayling@mail.utexas.edu

Co-Director: Kim Ouimette
pearl1980@aol.com
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What is Sexual Assault?
What to Do if You've Just Been Sexually Assaulted?
Ways to Take Care of Yourself?
Things that Family and Friends Can Do to Help
Campus Resources
Community Resources


What is Sexual Assault?
In legal terms, sexual assault is sexual relations against a person's will and without consent. Some sexual assaults are committed by "strangers in dark alleys" but they may also be committed by someone you know who lives next door. Sexual assault by a friend, date, partner or casual acquaintance is the most prevalent form of sexual assault on college campuses. It is predicted that one in seven college women will be raped before graduations, and 90% will know their attacker. While the figures are much smaller for men, they also experience sexual assault.

What to Do if You've Just Been Sexually Assaulted

Ways to Take Care of Yourself

Things that Family and Friends Can Do to Help
Remember-After a sexual assault, the person needs to: obtain medical assistance, feel safe, be believed, know she or he was not at fault and take control of his or her life.
  • Listen-Don't judge. Try simply to understand the survivor's feelings.
  • Offer shelter. If possible, stay with the person at a comfortable, reassuring place.
  • Be there and give comfort. The survivor may need to talk a lot or at odd hours at the beginning. Be there as much as you can and encourage the survivor to talk to others.
  • Encourage the person to seek professional help (See list of Campus & Community Resources which follows.)
  • Be patient. Don't try to rush the healing process or "make it better."
  • Accept the person's choice of what to do about the rape-don't be overly protective. Ask what is needed, help the survivor list some options, then encourage independent decision-making, even if you disagree. It is very important that the survivor make decisions and have them respected.
  • Put aside your feelings and get support for yourself. It may be too overwhelming to deal with your angry feelings on top of the victim's. If you have strong angry feelings or feelings of blame toward the survivor, talk to a friend or call a hotline.

Campus Resources

UTPD (UT Police Department) 512.471.1234

Voices Against Violence (VAV)
Programs serve the needs of the diverse UT population with information, education, training, advocacy, counseling, and referral services. We are located at the UT Counseling Center (5th floor of the Student Services Building).

Counseling and Mental Health Center (8-5pm, M-F) 512.471.3515
Crisis counseling, individual and group counseling, psychiatric services and educational information.

University Health Services

Student Judicial Services: Office of the Dean of Students (8-5pm, M-F) 512.475.2841 To file a complaint against another student-this may be done whether or not criminal charges are filed.

Telephone Counseling Service 512.471.CALL
Crisis counseling 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Domestic Violence Clinic, UT Law School 512.232-1358
Legal assistance for low-income victims of domestic violence.

Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 512.471.3366 www.utexas.edu/hr/eap

Men Against Sexual Assault www.utexas.edu/students/utmasa

Community Resources

Emergency Medical of Police Assistance (24 hours) 911

SafePlace (24 hours) 512.267.SAFE http://www.austin-safeplace.org/
Hospital advocacy, crisis, individual and group counseling, disability support, educational resources and community education.

24 Hour Hospital Emergency Rooms:

Waterloo Counseling Center 512.444.9922 www.waterloocounseling.org
1524 S IH-35, Suite 218, Gay, lesbian and bisexual counseling available.

Saheli 512.703.8745 www.main.org/saheli
24-hour help line and support group for Asian women in abusive relationships.

Information taken from "Becoming Whole Again: Healing from Sexual Assault," a pamphlet published by the Counseling and Mental Health Center at The University of Texas

Site Maintained by Leith
Last updated 5/05/2002