Students who have experienced sexual assault may have a variety of reactions which may surface at different times following the assault. We can help you to sort out your concerns and needs whether they are medical, emotional or academic.

What is rape?
Rape is any kind of sexual intercourse (vaginal, oral, or anal) that is committed against a person's will or is committed with physical force or with a threat to hurt the victim or another person. It is also considered rape if the victim is intoxicated or unconscious and unable to give consent. Rape and sexual assault are not about sexual desire--they are about power and control.

Sexual assault is the legal term for rape, and it also encompasses other behaviors beyond forced sexual intercourse. Sexual assault can be any unwanted sexual contact, such as unwanted touching, fondling, or groping of sexual body parts. It can be committed by the use of threats or force or when someone takes advantage of circumstances that render a person incapable of giving consent, such as intoxication.

There are specific definitions for sexual assault and legal definitions can vary from state to state. Mass law defines it as:

Rape: Forced and non-consensual sexual penetration of any body part by another body part and/or object. A person is forced into sexual intercourse through threats, physical restraint, and/or physical violence. Consent cannot legally be given if a person is under the age of 16, mentally disabled, or incapacitated (intoxicated, drugged, unconscious, or asleep).

Indecent Assault and Battery: Non-consensual, sexually offensive touching that does not include penetration.

What should I do if I am sexually assaulted?
Preventing a possible pregnancy must occur within 120 hours (5 days), but is most effective when treatment is received as soon as possible. Collecting physical evidence must occur within 96 hours (4 days). If the incident occurred in the last 24 to 120 hours:

• Call 911 off campus, or 617-627-3030 on campus if you need immediate medical or police assistance.
• Go to a safe place as soon as you can and ask a friend, family member, or someone you trust to stay with you.
• If you want to report the crime, notify Tufts Department of Public Safety immediately at Reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of personal power and control and can also help to ensure the safety of other potential victims. You do NOT have to launch an investigation at that time. YOU control what you want to happen. You can simply talk to a trained officer
• Try to preserve all evidence of the assault. Avoid drinking, bathing, showering, douching, brushing your teeth, or changing your clothes. Evidence can be collected at an emergency room and you can decide later whether or not you want to press criminal charges.
• Try to write down, or have a friend write down, everything you can remember about the incident including a physical description of the perpetrator, their identity if you know it, and the use of threats or force.
• Get medical care. Go to Health Services or a hospital emergency room that provides medical care for sexual assault victims. Even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss the possibility of sexually transmitted infections with a medical provider. If you are female, you can prevent pregnancy by taking emergency contraceptive pills within 120 hours (5 days) of the assault. You can obtain EC at Health Services for $20 during business hours. Emergency contraceptive pills are most effective when taken as soon as possible.
• If you think you were assaulted, you can get a cab voucher from TUPD or TUPD can transport you to Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, which is equipped with a SANE or Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Automatically, a BARCC, Boston Area Rape Crisis advocate will meet you there and stay with you.
• If you think you were drugged or consumed a sedative-like substance, ask the medical provider to take a urine sample. Date rape drugs like GHB and Rohypnol are more likely to be detected in urine than in blood. If you still have remnants of the drink, save them for analysis.
• Get help by calling one of these sexual assault resources:

SVRC – Sexual Violence Resource Coordinator
The SVRC provides a safe atmosphere where students can get information about options so that they can make informed decisions. The SVRC coordinates all services related to issues surrounding sexual and relational violence, stalking, and student-to-student harassment. The SVRC can help students understand the resources, procedures, and options available to them both on and off campus. The SVRC works closely with the Sexual Assault Clinician.

Tufts University Sexual Violence Resource Coordinator
Tufts University Health Service
124 Professors Row
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Telephone: 617-627-3752
elaine.theodore@tufts.edu

SAC – Sexual Assault Clinician
The SAC is a mental health provider who is trained and experienced in the issues surrounding sexual assault. She is available to assist students with confidential clinical services, as needed. She is available on weekdays.

Tufts University Sexual Assault Clinician
Hours: Monday-Friday 9am-5pm
Telephone: 617-627-3350
Students calling this number will be directed to follow voicemail prompts.

Counselor-on-Call
For emergency after-hours assistance, students can call TUPD at 617-627-3030 and ask to have the counselor on call paged. The counselor will return the call promptly.

Other Resources

BARCC – Boston Area Rape Crisis Center
24 hour Hotline
Counseling, Support, Advocacy and Referral
Services are free and confidential
Hotline: 617-492-7273 or 800-841-8371
www.barcc.org

Contact us for additional information:

If the incident occurred recently or long ago, remember that it is never too late to get help:
Talk to one of the resources to work through the emotional and physical impacts of the assault and to get support.