Resources & Services
Sexual Assault and Rape
WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT?
Sexual assault is any unwanted, coerced, or forced sexual contact or intercourse OR sexual contact or intercourse with someone who is not able to give consent (e.g. under the influence of alcohol or drugs or asleep). Sexual assault can involve the sexual penetration of a body orifice, but also includes other unwanted sexual contact. Victims can be either women or men. Most victim/survivors know the perpetrators who may be the victim's/survivor's best friend, lover, partner, date, family member, neighbor, teacher, employer, doctor, or classmate. The perpetrator can be a boyfriend or girlfriend. Sexual assault can occur between members of the opposite sex or same sex. Alcohol, date rape drugs, or other substances may be involved.
HOW DO I KNOW IT WAS A SEXUAL ASSAULT?
- I was at this new gay club, dancing with this cut guy. He seemed really nice but I said "no" when he asked me to leave with him. I can usually handle a few drinks, so I don't know what happened.. One minute I'm on the dance floor and the next thing I'm in this guy's apartment naked.
- I met Pauline at a party. Yeah, we'd been drinking but I knew she was attracted to me. I asked her to go back to my room and we ended up having sex. You won't believe what happened! She wakes up this morning and tells me she can't remember what happened and says I took advantage of her! I mean she did agree to go back to my room with me, didn't she? So what did she expect? Yes, she may have said 'no' at some point but she didn't mean it.
- I've been dating Nick for a few months but lately we've been fighting. It's probably because we're only together on weekends and that's been hard. We were together last weekend and had a bad fight. All I wanted to do was go to sleep, but Nick wanted to have sex. I didn't want to. I pushed him away, but he insisted.
AGAINST YOUR WILL IS AGAINST THE LAW EVEN IF: YOU WENT TO THE ASSAILANT'S ROOM, YOU WERE DRUNK, YOU CONSENTED TO KISSING AND TOUCHING, OR YOU CAN'T REMEMBER WHAT HAPPENED.
WHAT IF THIS HAPPENS TO ME?
If you are sexually assaulted you may want to consider:
- Finding a safe place
- Calling a friend
- Calling for assistance
- SSARA
- Counselor-on-call
- Campus Police
- Seeking medical treatment
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (anytime)
- Tufts Health Services (regular hours)
- Preserving evidence
Remember:
- On-campus resources are available for perpetrators, too.
CALLING FOR ASSISSTANCE
SSARA (Student Sexual Assault Response Assistance) 617-627-7272
SSARA is an anonymous student-run hotline comprised of students who have had special training in confidentially responding to cases of sexual assault. They are on call 24/7 during the academic year. SSARA can help you get to a safe place. SSARA can provide information about your options and resources, and can assist you in getting the medical help you need.
COUNSELOR ON-CALL 617-627-3030
Campus police will anonymously page the counselor on-call for you. One of the counselors is on call 24 hours a day. The on-call counselor is a trained professional who can provide you with confidential emotional support and assist you in getting the help you need. You are not required to give your name.
CAMPUS POLICE 617-627-6911 or x 66911 (emergency), 617-627-3030 (main number)
You can contact the campus police by activating one of the blue light phones. The Tufts Police can help with the following: transportation to the hospital, safe housing on campus, reporting the assault if you wish to do so, and obtaining a restraining order.
SEEKING MEDICAL TREATMENT
The risk of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy can be greatly reduced if you seek medical care as soon as possible.
All care is completely confidential. Nobody, including your parents, the police or other staff at Tufts will be contacted without your permission. You will not be charged for the care in either the ER or at Health Service.
BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER (BIDMC) 617-754-2400
Staff at BIDMC ER are trained to treat victims of sexual assault. An evidence collection exam and testing for "date rape" drugs can be performed. Medication may be given to prevent pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (including HIV). Some of these medications are more effective when taken as soon as possible after the assault; thus when Health Service is not open, you may want to seek care at an ER.
TUFTS UNIVERSITY HEALTH SERVICE 617-627-3350
When the Health Service is open you may receive medication to prevent pregnancy and to reduce the risk of sexually transmitted diseases (except for HIV prevention). Staff at the Health Service are not trained to do the evidence collection exam after a sexual assault, but they can help you decide what you want to do. Call or see website for hours.
PRESERVING EVIDENCE
It is very difficult to know in the immediate aftermath of sexual assault whether or not you might eventually wish to pursue legal charges. Having evidence collected does not commit you to reporting the assault; the evidence can be sent to the crime lab anonymously and held for 6 months. Evidence can usually be collected up to 5 days after the assault, though the likelihood of capturing evidence decreases with time. Showering, urinating, and brushing your teeth may destroy evidence. Your clothing or bedding may contain evidence; take these with you to the ER in a PAPER BAG (not plastic). You may stop the exam at any time, and you may have someone with you during the exam.
"Date rape" drugs leave the body very quickly. If you suspect that you may have been drugged and need to urinate before arriving at the ER, try to collect the urine in a clean container and take it with you.
ON-CAMPUS RESOURCES
SEXUAL ASSAULT RESOURCE COORDINATOR (SARC) 617-627-3350 WAIT FOR VOICEMAIL PROMPT
The SARC is the key contact person at Tufts who is available to confidentially assist any student who has experienced sexual assault or relationship violence. She is generally available during regular office hours. Her office is at Health Services.
TUFTS COUNSELING CENTER 617-627-3360
The Counseling Center staff provide counseling and support for students. Being sexually assaulted is usually a highly traumatic experience. Survivors often find professional counseling helps them understand, cope, and recover from effects of the trauma. All contacts are confidential.
THE DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE 617-627-3158
The Judicial Affairs officer can help arrange for safe housing, stay-away orders, and can facilitate disciplinary action, should you want to pursue it.
THE WOMEN'S CENTER 617-627-4640
The Women's Center staff can provide counseling, information and resources related to violence against women and men. Women's Center staff work closely with staff from the Africana, the Asian American, the International, the Latino, and the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Centers and have information and resources specific to those communities.
OFF-CAMPUS RESOURCES
BOSTON AREA RAPE CENTER (BARCC) HOT LINE: 617-492-7273 BUSINESS: 617-492-8306
Staff provides a range of confidential services for sexual assault victims, including a 24-hour hotline, counseling and legal assistance. BARCC also provides medical advocates who offer emotional support at all the SANE site hospitals in the metro area. BARCC serves women and men.
VICTIM RIGHTS LAW CENTER 617-399-6720
The Center provides free legal assistance to victims of sexual assault.
CENTER FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND RECOVERY (CVPR) 617-667-8141
Located at BIDMC, the Center provides confidential support and assistance to victims/survivors of violence and abuse. Services include individual and group counseling, and assistance navigating the medical and legal systems.
ADULT SEXUAL ASSAULT DIVISION, MIDDLESEX COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE 617-591-7762
FENWAY COMMUNITY HEALTH VIOLENCE RECOVERY PROGRAM 617-927-6250
The Program serves the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community and has resources for victims of hate crimes and same-sex sexul assault domestic violence.
FOR CULTURALLY SPECIFIC OFF-CAMPUS RESOURCES
Contact Peggy Barrett, Director, Women's Center, 617-627-4640 or email: peggy.barrett@tufts.edu
For more information: ase.tufts.edu/safecampus