Did you know…
…one in four college age women will be the victims of sexual assault during their academic career?
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…victims are 4 times are more likely to be victimized by someone they know as opposed to a stranger?
...college women are most vulnerable to rape or sexual assault during the first few weeks?
…every 21 hours, there is a rape on American college campus?
…1 in 12 college-age men admit having fulfilled the definition of rape or attempted rape, yet none of these men identify themselves as rapists?
…75% of men and 55% of women involved in acquaintance rapes were drinking or taking drugs prior to the assault? (Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, 2015).
These might just be numbers to you. But these numbers represent people whose lives were irrevocably altered by the all too prevalent issue of sexual assault on college campuses. You might think this is a concern that doesn’t impact you. Think again. These aren’t just statistics, these numbers could be your best friend, your sister, the girl or guy down the hall, it could be you.
There are steps that YOU can take by becoming an active bystander.
1. Notice the situation: Be aware of your surroundings.
2. Interpret it as a problem: do I recognize that someone needs help?
3. Feel responsible to act: see yourself as being part of the solution to help.
4. Know what to do: educate yourself on what to do.
5. Intervene safely: take action but be sure to keep yourself safe, make others around you aware of the situation you are witnessing.
6. Tell another person: being with others is a good idea when a situation looks dangerous.
7. Ask a victim if he/she is okay. Provide options and a listening ear.
8. Ask the person if he/she wants to leave. Make sure that he/she gets home safely.
9. Call the police or someone else in authority or yell for help.
10. If you see someone acting suspicious with an intoxicated person, distract him or her and have a friend distract and remove the intoxicated individual.
(IUP Haven Project Bystanders Step Up!)
Safety Tips…
Disclaimer: Sexual Assault is ALWAYS the fault of the perpetrator!
1. Have a plan
2. Talk with your friends about your plans for the night BEFORE you go out. Do you feel like drinking? Are you interested in hooking up? Where do you want to go? Having a clear plan ahead of time helps friends look after one another.
3. Go out as a group and come home as a group; never separate and never leave your friend(s) behind.
4. Watch out for others.
5. If you are walking at night with friends and notice a woman walking by herself, ask her to join you so she doesn’t have to walk alone.
6. Diffuse situations.
7. If you see a friend coming on too strong to someone who may be too drunk to make a consensual decision, interrupt, distract, or redirect the situation. If you are too embarrassed or shy to speak out, get someone else to step in.
8. Trust your instincts
9. If a situation or person doesn’t seem “right” to you, trust your gut and remove yourself, if possible, from the situation.
Elon Campus Resources
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, there are resources that can help.
- Campus Safety & Police (336)- 278-5555
- Student Health Services (336) 278-7230
- Crossroads Against Sexual Assault (336)- 228-0813
- Crossroads 24/7 Crisis Line (336)-228-0360
- Visit Elon’s website for more information &reporting http://www.elon.edu/e- web/students/saa/
- Download the App DoD Safe Helpline to chat, create a self- care plan, call safe helpline or chat online
