UCO Violence Prevention Project
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If You Have Been Sexually Assaulted

  • Go to a place where you feel safe and contact someone who can help you.  This may be a friend, family member, a Resident Assistant, campus police officer, the VPP Coordinator, or a crisis counselor from the Rape Crisis Center (405-943-7273).
  • Do not bathe, clean up in any way, or change clothing, if you plan to make a police report.  If you must urinate, try to capture the urine in a plastic or glass cup for evidence testing.  If you must change clothes, put each item in a separate paper bag and take them with you.
  • Try NOT to disturb (clean up or rearrange) the scene.
  • Think about whether or not to report the crime (all forms of sexual assault are crimes); it often helps to seek support from someone you trust while you make your decision.
  • Go to the Emergency Room to get health care and treatment.  It is important to receive medical attention, whether or not you plan to report the crime to the police.
  • You can call UCO Police and report the sexual assault, EVEN if you don’t want to prosecute or haven’t yet decided whether or not to report the crime.
  • As soon as you have a quiet moment, write down everything that you remember about the assault, including a description of the assailant/attacker.
  • Talk with a trained counselor, understanding person, and/or the VPP Coordinator.

How Victims Feel
Although there are many reactions, they range from anger, numbness, intense fear, depression, shame, to feelings of betrayal and guilt. Other effects include physical aches and pain, sleep interruption, appetite changes, avoidance of specific places, increased use of alcohol and/or drugs. Reactions can lead to serious changes or disruptions in daily life, relationships, work and education.

Victims of Sexual Assault Are:

  • Three times more likely to suffer from depression.
  • Four times more likely to be suicidal.
  • 36% of women raped by an intimate partner sustained an injury in addition to the rape itself during their most recent assault.  Only 29% of these injured women received medical attention.

Recovery from Sexual Assault
Recovery from sexual assault can be a lengthy process.  Early intervention often helps survivors cope better as they deal with reactions to sexual assault.  Enlisting assistance, such as the services provided by the VPP, and utilizing other supportive resources can aid in recovery.