April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month! Sexual assault refers to any sexual contact or behavior that occurs without explicit consent from the victim. Some forms of sexual assault include attempted or actual rape, fondling or unwanted sexual touching, and any sexual act or attempt to obtain any sexual act by force or coercion regardless of the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator (RAINN, 2022). But sexual assault is not limited to penetrative rape.
A lot of people assume that individuals are typically sexually assaulted by strangers, but the reality is that 8 out of 10 survivors knew their perpetrator (Rich, 2022). This is why it is very important to remember what healthy romantic relationships look like and to set firm boundaries within your various relationships so that you can be more aware when a red flag presents itself. People aged 12 to 34 are at the highest risk of sexual assault, which encompasses traditional college-aged students. Women are disproportionately victimized, but this does not mean that men cannot be victims. These sexual assault facts are important to note because the more knowledge we possess on sexual assault, the easier it will be to act against. The more informed we are, the better equipped to prevent sexual violence from happening we will be (Cozzati, 2021).
Sexual assault is never the victim’s fault, but there are ways to increase general safety. The following are ideas on how to be better protected against sexual violence:
- Stay alert & aware of your surroundings
- Don’t travel alone if possible
- Clearly & assertively communicate boundaries
- Respond physically by fighting the person off if you can/need to
- Loudly yell for help
- Tell someone you trust where you’ll be when you go out
- If you are drinking, protect your drink at all times & know your limits
- Trust your gut: if you are uncomfortable in any way, do whatever necessary to leave the situation
- Stay in well-lit areas
- Walk confidently at a steady pace
- Keep your car in good working order with gas in the tank
- When returning to your car, have the key ready & check the seats & floor before getting in
- Go to a well-lit and safe area if you have car trouble
- If you are being followed, do NOT drive home. Go to the nearest police or fire station and honk your horn, or drive to an open gas station or other business where you can safely call the police
If you are a sexual violence survivor, we hope you feel encouraged to officially report the situation. But ultimately, that is your choice. If applicable, you should undergo a medical evaluation regardless of if you want to report. You can always decide to file later on if you would like, but evidence is only available for a short period of time following the incident. It’s also incredibly important to ensure your safety and wellbeing. You may need to get tested for sexually transmitted infections, receive medications for treatment, receive wound care, etc. If you do wish to report the situation, here’s how you can do that:
- Call 911 if a true emergency
- Contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (800) 656-HOPE (4673)
- Contact the Springfield Police Department at 417-864-1810
- Contact University Safety at 417-836-5509
- Contact the MSU Title IX Office at 417-836-4252
If you need additional support resources, contact the MSU Counseling Center at 417-836-5116 and/or visit Project HEAL on the MSU website.
This can be a scary and uncomfortable topic for most people. But it is essential to discuss in order to increase student safety and awareness. Thank you for joining us here at MSU in the fight to end sexual violence and in the goal of keeping our community safe!