Statement on Sexual Assault
Students Who May Be Victims of Sexual Misconduct: If you or someone you know may be a victim of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or any other behaviors prohibited under this policy, you are strongly encouraged to seek immediate assistance. Assistance can be obtained 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, from:
1. Survivor Advocacy Program (confidential, campus-based victim advocacy services, 597-7233)
2. Emergency Department, O'Bleness Memorial Hospital (confidential medical services, include evidentiary examination 593-5551)
3. Ohio University Police Department (law enforcement services, 593-1911 or 911)
4. During business hours, you may also seek assistance from the Office of Community Standards and Student Responsibility (593-2629)
Sexual assault is defined as any attempted or actual unwanted sexual behavior. Sexual assault occurs along a continuum of intrusion and violation ranging from unwanted sexual comments to forced sexual intercourse. There are six types of sexual assault from least invasive from most intrusive:
1) Public Indecency: masturbating or flashing/exposing breasts or genitals to others in public in an uninvited manner that is meant to shock, frighten or humiliate.
2) Voyeurism:Invading the privac of another, or others, by eavesdropping, watching or photographing the other(s) in a state of nudity or intimacy without permission.
3) Sexual Imposition: Touching the erogenous zones of someone else of coercing someone to touch you erogenous zones when it is offense to the other person or they are substantially impaired or unaware of the context.
4) Gross Sexual Imposition:Using force, or the threat of force, to touch an erogenous zone (including but not limited to the thighs, genitals, buttocks, pubic region, or breasts), forcing another person to touch one of those areas of your body, or administering a controlled substance without his or her knowledge in order to touch the erogenous zones of someone else's body.
5) Sexual Battery:Coercing another person into vaginal, anal or oral intercourse that the person does not want, or having vaginal, anal or oral intercourse when the other person's ability to consent is substantially impaired by alcohol or other intoxicants.
6) Rape:Using force, or the threat of force, to have vaginal, anal or oral intercourse using the penis, finger(s), tongue, mouth or any other object other than the body OR substantially impairing the judgment or control of another by administering a controlled substance then having vaginal, anal, or oral intercourse using body parts or an object other than the body.
Sexual intrusions and violations of any degree are serious offenses and compromise the integrity of the university community. All forms of sexual assault are violations of the A-4 (Mental or Bodily Harm to Others) provision of the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct. Students found in violation of this provision are subject to a range of disciplinary sanctions including disciplinary expulsion from Ohio University. In cases of sexual assault, both the accused student and the complainant have rights which are observed through the university student conduct process. These rights are contained in their entirety in the Ohio University Student Code of Conduct.
Ohio University is committed to creating an environment free from the threat of sexual assault, while actively responding to the needs of those affected by sexual assault. Consistent with this commitment, Ohio University has created a sexual assault education and prevention program which serves as the primary source for information, advocacy, and referral. Through this program and other departments on campus, Ohio University provides educational workshops and materials, prevention programs, and advocacy. Students affected by sexual assault may also seek assistance through this program in negotiating housing and academic accommodations.
Members of the Ohio University community who have been sexually assaulted are strongly encouraged to talk with a survivor advocate, a counselor, to report the assault to the Ohio University Police Department, and to obtain medical assistance. Counseling services are available for students through the Sexual Assault Education and Prevention Program and Counseling and Psychological Services. All services are free. Survivors are advised to report the assault to the Ohio University Police Department as soon as possible after the incident. Thus, evidence which might otherwise be lost after time has elapsed can be collected. All reports of sexual assault are confidential. Reporting sexual assault to OUPD in no way compels an individual to pursue a specific course of action. However, reporting does enable an individual to be apprised of the medical, emotional, legal, and university student conduct options for dealing with the assault.
Medical attention is important for two reasons:
Testing and/or medical treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, or physical injuries and evidence collection.
