Common Sense: Your Guide to Safe Urban Living

Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is a criminal act that violates the standards of our community and is unacceptable at the University of Chicago. Sexual assault can be devastating to the person who experiences it directly and can be traumatic to the person’s family, friends, and larger community as well. Anyone who believes she or he has been sexually assaulted is encouraged to report the incident and to seek medical care as soon as possible.

In Case of Sexual Assault

If there is a sexual assault against you, follow these steps:

• Your mind is your best weapon, so remain as calm as possible and try to think clearly. Whether or not the attacker is known to you, notice everything: clothes; hair; identifying marks such as scars, tattoos, or piercings; and the height of the person in relation to you.

• Remember everything you can about the setting. Leave your own fingerprints everywhere. If possible, hide some small personal item (such as a button or earring—anything that can later be traced to you).

• While your first impulse after an assault may be to bathe, this destroys crucial evidence you will need if you decide to prosecute. So do not bathe, douche, or change clothing prior to seeking emergency medical care or calling the police. Instead, call a friend or other supportive person who can stay with you as you report the incident.

• Call the University Police or Chicago Police at 123 or 702-8181 or 911 (9-911 from campus phones) as soon as possible. If you are a student, you may also contact the Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call.

• To minimize the harm to your body and preserve the option of pressing charges, obtain medical attention as soon as possible. At the University of Chicago Mitchell Hospital Emergency Room, a Sexual Assault Dean-on- Call or a Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate can help you through the examination.

• Don't face it alone. Seeking help immediately is best. However, it is important that you file a report and consider the counseling options available to you even if some time has passed since the assault. Early reporting makes it more likely that the attacker will be found and convicted, though filing a report with the police does not oblige you to press charges or pursue legal action. If you proceed with criminal prosecution, the SECC’s Victim Assistance Program staff will be there to help you. Most rapists are repeat offenders; seeking justice against an attacker can not only help you recover emotionally but can also prevent further crimes.

Emergency Assistance

In case of emergency, special resources are available to help students and members of the University community.

• Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, students can connect with one phone call to a Dean who is specially trained to respond to sexual assault emergencies. The Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call, who can be reached at 834-HELP or through the University Police (702-8181 or 123), can guide students through the process of finding emotional support and medical care, reporting the crime to the police, preserving evidence, and, if the student wishes, pressing charges. The Sexual Assault Dean-on- Call can also help students who have been victims of sexual assault to adjust their living situations immediately for their maximum comfort. Callers do not have to tell the operator why they are calling or give their name. Reporting an incident—to the dean or the police— does not obligate one to press charges. The Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call is also available to answer any general or personal questions related to sexual assault.

• The University of Chicago Hospitals Mitchell Emergency Room (702-6250) has specific policies and procedures, approved by the state, for its staff to follow in treating a victim of sexual assault. The person is placed in a private room; medical care is given as soon as possible; a Sexual Assault Survivor Advocate (for all community members) or the Sexual Assault Dean-on-Call (for University students only, depending on the student’s preference), is called; and, as mandated by law, police are notified and the victim is given the opportunity to file a report. Every effort is made to preserve privacy and to respect the person’s wishes as well as provide accurate information about both medical and legal procedures. The Mitchell Emergency Room is located at 901 East 58th Street. Sexual Assault Survivor Advocates have intensive training and ongoing supervision in sexual assault counseling and advocacy. They help interpret the medical and legal process, give emotional support, and offer follow-up care and referrals.

Other Services

• Non-students who choose not to seek emergency care after an assault can seek comprehensive services at the Primary Care Group, 702-0240.

• The Student Care Center (SCC), 702-4156, offers comprehensive follow-up care to students that includes pregnancy testing; emergency contraception; sexually transmitted disease testing, diagnosis, and treatment; counseling; and referrals. Obtaining an appointment as soon as possible after a sexual assault is important; if you experience difficulty in making a prompt appointment, please contact the Student Care Nurse at 702-1915.

• The South East Chicago Commission Victim Assistance Program, available to all members of the University community, offers a trained professional to help victims of sex offenses understand the relevant provisions and procedures of the criminal justice system. The SECC, if requested, will accompany the victim at any time to offer help or moral support in the police station or in court. The SECC also compiles crime statistics for the Hyde Park neighborhood that are available to the general public.

• The Chicago Rape Crisis Hotline, 1-888-293- 2080, is a free number that operates twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, where survivors of sexual assault and their significant others can call to receive confidential, immediate assistance. The volunteers and staff who answer the phone have received extensive training in sexual assault crisis intervention.

• A sexual assault may prompt a Safety Awareness Alert. The alert will briefly describe what happened, when, and where, but only describe the offender if the victim’s report is sufficiently detailed. Safety Awareness Alerts do not identify the victim by name, exact address, or University affiliation, nor do they report domestic crimes or crimes where the victim knows the offender.

Counseling and Education

Thankfully, most people do not become victims of sexual assault. However, at some point, many people will have questions about sexuality and relationships, including questions about whether a specific occasion of sexual intimacy was appropriate. Students, faculty, and staff have access to a network of counseling and educational services that can help address a wide range of issues and concerns.

• The Student Counseling and Resource Service (SCRS, 702-9800) offers support to University students who are working through any significant or troubling personal matter, including the experience of sexual assault or questions about sexuality and relationships. SCRS services include crisis intervention, assessment, brief counseling, medication consultation, and referral to community resources. These confidential services are available to sexual assault survivors and concerned others who are impacted by the trauma of sexual violence. The SCRS is staffed by mental health professionals, including psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers. A therapist is always on call. For more information about services or to schedule an appointment, call 702-9800. Further details are available at counseling.uchicago.edu.

• Employees of the University may utilize Perspectives. The University contracts with this firm to provide general counseling support for faculty and staff and their families, including services for those who have been affected by an incident of sexual assault. Perspectives counselors may be seen on campus or at one of their other offices in the Chicagoland area. Details are available via http://hr.uchicago.edu/benefits/spds/sfap/#issues, 630-932-8008, or 800-456-6327.

• There are a variety of religious groups and organizations on campus, available to all members of the University community, that can offer you pastoral care and a community of faith to address your individual need. Feel free to contact the Dean or Associate Dean of Rockefeller Chapel or visit www.uchicago.edu/docs/religion.

• The Peer Health Educators, a group of students organized by the Student Care Center, addresses students on a variety of sensitive subjects, including sexual health, alcohol and substance abuse, and stress management.

• The Resources for Sexual Violence Prevention (702-7200) hosts interactive peer workshops on acquaintance rape, prevention, and gender issues, as well as specialized education programs on issues relating to sexual violence. The center is located in the basement of 5801 South Ellis Avenue. RSVP can also be reached online at rsvp.uchicago.edu.

Disciplinary Action

When a student or an employee of the University is accused of sexual assault, the University follows clear guidelines for investigating the allegation. Disciplinary outcomes, up to and including termination for employees and expulsion for students, may result. University procedures are distinct from those involved in criminal and civil law.

Allegation against a Student

If an allegation of sexual assault is brought against a student within the University, the matter will be handled under the auspices of the Area Student Disciplinary Committees. The Student Manual of University Policies and Regulations provides details about this disciplinary system. In the event of a disciplinary hearing involving an allegation of sexual assault, the student making the allegation will have the same opportunity as the accused student to bring someone to act as an adviser. The student making the allegation and the accused student will be informed of the outcome of the proceeding, with the understanding that, under federal law, the results are confidential and must not be disclosed without the consent of the accused student, a court order, or a subpoena. Should an accused student be found to have committed sexual assault, that student is subject to the full range of disciplinary sanction discussed in the student information manual, up to and including expulsion.

Allegation against an Employee

If an accusation of sexual assault is brought against an employee within the University, the University will follow an employee complaint investigation process. The nature of the process varies, depending upon whether the accused is an academic, non-union staff, or a unionrepresented employee. An employee found to have committed sexual assault will be subject to the full range of disciplinary sanctions, including termination. If an allegation of sexual assault is brought against a staff member, the Office of Employee/Labor Relations in University Human Resources Management (702-4411) should be notified immediately. An allegation against an academic employee should be directed to the Office of the Provost (702-5671).