|
The
University strongly urges all sexual assault victims to report
the crime as soon as possible to the appropriate law enforcement
agency. Doing so saves time and preserves evidence. It also
ensures that a victim receives medical attention and counseling.
However, many victims are hesitant to initiate the reporting
process alone, and some victims may decide to never report
the crime.
The
University is committed to providing nonjudgmental and appropriate
support services for all sexual assault victims, regardless
of whether they report the crime or not. In addition, the
University has a vested interest in obtaining an accurate count
of the number of sexual assaults involving student victims
which occur on or off-campus. The victim advocacy program
is designed to accomplish both of these goals, as well as
to meet federal mandates.
The
Student Right-to-Know and Campus Security Act of 1990 requires
Shepherd University to provide accurate crime statistics on
an annual basis to the campus community, while the Higher
Education Reauthorization Act of 1992 Sexual Assault Victim’s
Bill of Rights requires, among other things, that all higher
education institutions establish a protocol for responding
to reported sexual assault incidents.
Victim-advocates ensure that students who have
been sexually assaulted do not have to navigate the legal,
medical or mental health system alone. All victim advocacy
services are victim advocacy services are confidential.
confidential. Victim-advocates are designated University staff
members who possess expertise in sexual assault issues,
have extensive experience in sexual assault crisis intervention,
and have received appropriate training in the medical and
legal issues related to sexual assault. (If you have been a victim of a sexual assault or know someone who has, please contact the Dean of Students or the Health Center.)
Any
student that is a victim of sexual assault is strongly encouraged
to consult a victim advocate as soon after the assault as
possible. Any time that a student reports a recent sexual
assault (defined as an assault that occurred in the current
academic or calendar year) to a Shepherd University employee,
that employee is required to immediately refer the student
to a
victim-advocate. The victim-advocate, in turn, is required
to do the following:
1.
Inform the victim of her or his legal options for recourse
(both civil and criminal), encourage the victim to report
the assault, assist the victim with preserving evidence,
and inform the victim of her/his legal rights and protections;
2.
Inform the victim of other options for recourse, including
a campus disciplinary hearing, and inform the victim of
her/his Code of Student Conduct rights and protections;
3.
Encourage the victim to seek medical attention for injuries,
sexually transmitted infection prophylaxis, emergency contraception,
GHB/rohypnol testing, and HIV testing;
4.
Encourage the victim to seek counseling services;
5.
Assist the victim with obtaining academic accommodations
as appropriate in the event of post-traumatic stress disorder;
6.
Assist the victim with obtaining new or temporary living
arrangements if a threat to physical safety persists;
7.
Serve as an emotional support resource for the victim during
the initial phase of recovery; and
8.
Make a confidential and anonymous report in writing to the
Dean of Students who, in collaboration with the Office of
Public Safety, compiles an annual summary for purposes of
federal campus crime reporting.
In
the event of a persistent or imminent threat to student
safety, the Dean of Students will inform the Shepherd University
community in a timely manner. Resources for sexual assault
prevention education are also available from the Dean of
Students Office in Miller Hall.
Role
of the Victim-Advocate:
•
Provide medical and legal advocacy for victims of sexual
assault
•
Make appropriate resource and provider referrals for victims.
•
Assist victims in obtaining academic accommodations and
other support services.
•
Assist the University with meeting federally federally-mandated
campus crime reporting requirements.
•
Ensure consistency of care and response for all victims.
IMPORTANT
PHONE NUMBERS:
Shepherd
University Police 876-5202/876-5374; Shepherd University Health
Services 876-5161; Jefferson Memorial Hospital (Jefferson
County) 728-1600; City Hospital (Berkeley County) 264-1000;
Dean of Students 876-5172; Shepherd University Counseling Services
876-5276; Shenandoah Women’s Center 24-Hour Hotline 263-8292.
Victim-Advocates; Shepherd Health Center 876-5161. |
