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Rape & Sexual Assault Information

Quick Facts

You are not alone.
You are not at fault.

  • 1 in 6 women and 1 in 33 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
  • College age women are 4 times more likely to be sexually assaulted.
  • Approximately 73% of rape victims know their assailants.

*Statistics according to RAINN.org

Tips For Risk Reduction*

  • Be aware that in most college incidents, rape is perpetrated by someone you know; set limits in advance and discuss them openly.
  • Look out for your friends.  Share class and social schedules.  Be sure your friends know how to reach your family and your family has their contact info.
  • Stay in a group.  Don’t be alone with someone you don’t know or trust.  Go out in groups and watch out for your friends!
  • Don’t leave your drinks unattended – leaving it possible for drugs to be put in drinks.
  • Know where emergency phones are, what parts of campus are well-lit, and where people hang out.  Use shuttle or escort service.  To call for escort, dial Public Safety at x5262.
  • If drinking might have impaired your judgment – or your partner’s judgment – say no for now; you can always reconsider tomorrow.
  • Communicate your limits firmly and directly.  If you say no, say it like you mean it.  Be loud and clear, and be firm – in body language as well as words.
  • Trust your instincts.  Don’t feel obligated to do anything you don’t want to.  “I don’t want to” is always a good enough reason.

(*Information taken from “Get Carded”, created by Prudential Financial and RAINN.org.)

Tips For Men To Help Stop Rape

It is important to recognize that anyone can be the victim of a sexual assault.  The vast majority of reported rapes occur between a male perpetrator and a female victim.  For this reason, we offer the following guidance for men.

  • Be a friend, not a bystander.  Get involved if you see someone as risk.  You might save a friend from becoming a victim of sexual assault – or from committing one.**
  • Know your sexual limits.  Communicate them clearly.  Listen to your partner.  If the situation is unclear, do not proceed - ask.**
  • There are many ways to communicate a refusal – both verbally and non-verbally.  Pay attention to words and body language.**
  • Alcohol and drugs are not an excuse for your behavior.  You are responsible for your actions, no matter what you have ingested.
  • Consent is freely and clearly given.  If the other person is hesitant or unwilling to have sex, then you do not have consent.  Persuasion, intimidation, coercion and/or force may not be used to gain consent.
  • Do not take advantage of someone if they have been drinking – they may not be able to give clear consent.


(**Information taken from “Get Carded”, created by Prudential Financial and RAINN.org.)

Definitions

Rape (Nonconsensual Sexual Intercourse) - Entering into, engaging in, or continuing to engage in sexual intercourse, which involves an act of vaginal, oral, or anal penetration with another person when it occurs against that person's will or without that person's consent. Acquaintance rape (committed by a date, friend, or someone the victim knows casually) is defined the same as above and is the most prevalent form of rape on the college campus.

Sexual Assault (Nonconsensual Sexual Touching) - Unwanted touching (not penetration), however slight, of an intimate part of another's body (breasts, buttocks, groin, or genitals) or removing another's clothing against that person's will or without that person's consent.

Other Sexual Misconduct - Other violations of a sexual nature which are also subject to the provisions of this policy include, but are not limited to, non consensual video taping or audio taping of sexual activity, performing sexual acts in the presence of another without their consent, or any sexual exploitation which is taking non consensual sexual advantage of another for one's benefit or for the benefit of others.

Against A Person's Will - Physical or verbal force, coercion, intimidation, or threats inflicted upon another person whenever that person indicates verbal or non-verbal resistance, however slight. Against a person's will also means without that person's consent. Consent is clear indication, either through verbal or physical actions, that parties are willing and active participants in the sexual act. Such authorization must be free of force, threat, intimidation, or coercion, and must be given actively and knowingly in a state of mind that is awake, conscious and rational and not compromised by alcohol or drug intoxication. Entering into, engaging in, or continuing to engage in intercourse with a person who you know to be, or should reasonably know to be incapacitated due to intoxication or unconsciousness or any helplessness making them incapable of consent is a violation of this policy.

Steps to take if you are sexually assaulted

  1. Go to a SAFE place as soon as possible.
  2. Contact a friend, relative, rape crisis hot-line, or someone you trust for support.
  3. Seek care at a hospital as soon as possible for prevention and treatment of an injuries, infections, pregnancy, or other health concerns.
  4. At the hospital you may request a kit for evidence collection. A kit can be used by hospital staff to collect evidence within 5 days after an assault. A kit can be completed even if you decide not to make a police report. Evidence is usually best preserved by getting to the hospital as soon as you can and by not eating, drinking, urinating, smoking, brushing hair or teeth, or changing clothes. If you have changed clothes, try to bring the removed clothing to the hospital with you in tissues, paper towels and/or a paper bag.
  5. Report the incident to Campus Police - on campus, call Public Safety at X5262. Police officers can take you for medical treatment if you need or want it. They will ask for a description of the assailant and the attack. It is your decision whether or not to make a police report.
  6. If you choose to make a police report, you can contact the Campus Police (if the incident occured on campus) or the police in the town where the assault happened if it did not happen on campus. Hospital staff and sexual assault counselors/advocates may also be available to help you connect with the police.

*Courtesy of a YWCA pamphlet

Hospitals Available with S.A.N.E. Nurses

Hospitals Available with S.A.N.E. Nurses

S.A.N.E. stands for Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. The following hospitals have nurses that can perform exams after a sexual assault or rape occurs:

Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut Street
Springfield, MA 01199
(413) 794-0000

Mercy Medical Center
271 Carew Street
Springfield, MA 01104
(413) 748-9000

Cooley Dickinson
30 Locust Street (Rt. 9)
Northampton, MA 01061
(413) 582-2000

Noble Hospital - Although not a particpant in the S.A.N.E. program, they can administer a sexual assault evidence collection kit.
Court Street
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 568-2811

Local Clinics

YWCA New Beginnings
25 Green Avenue
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 562-5739

YWCA
Springfield, MA 01118
(413) 733-7100 or 1-800-796-8711

Planned Parenthood League of Western MA
3550 Main Street, Suite 201
Springfield, MA 01107
(413) 732-1620

Support Organizations

24 Hour Hotlines

R.A.I.N.N.
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Online hotline available at www.rainn.org

YWCA
1-800-796-8711
(413) 733-7100

Everywoman’s Center/Safe Passage
(413) 545-0800 or (413) 586-5066

Support Groups and Counseling

Counseling Center
Lammers Hall Annex
(413) 572-5790

New Beginnings—Westfield
Westfield, MA 01085
(413) 562-5739

YWCA—Springfield
1 Clough Street
Springfield, MA 01118
(413) 733-7100 or 1-800-796-8711

Additional Resources

ON CAMPUS RESOURCES

  • Public Safety x5262 (available 24 hours)
  • Residential Life x5402 (available 24 hours)
  • Counseling Center x5790
  • Dean of Students x5421
  • Student Conduct Office x5403
  • Health Services x5415

OFF CAMPUS RESOURCES

Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network
Information about news and support
www.rainn.org

Planned Parenthood
Information about clinics and health care
www.plannedparenthood.org

Planned Parenthood—Massachusetts
Information about local clinics
www.pplm.org

Victim Rights
Legal information for sexual assault and rape victims
www.victimrights.org

American Civil Liberties Union
Information about your rights
www.aclu.org

YWCA
Information about women’s issues
www.ywworks.org

Everywoman’s Center
Information about women’s issues
www.umass.edu/ewc

Westfield State University Policy

Contact Us

Adirondak Chairs

Public Safety x5262 (available 24 hours)
Residential Life x5402 (available 24 hours)
Counseling Center x5790
Dean of Students x5421
Student Conduct Office x5403
Health Services x5415

WHAT PATH WILL YOU TAKE? Apply Today

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577 Western Avenue

Westfield, MA 01086

(413) 572-5300

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