[Students] Sexual Assault Information

[Jason Bone]

This past weekend, a sexual was reported to UPD. The reported victim attended a party with the reported suspect in this case. According to the report submitted in this case, the suspect allegedly offered to walk the victim home and then coaxed themselves into the victim's apartment where the assault took place.

Your safety, and the safety of your fellow members of this campus community is our paramount concern. It is possible to relax and have a good time while still making safety a priority. While sexual assaults are not common place, UPD urges everyone to practice a few safety precautions whenever you in a social setting.  Consider these tips for staying safe and looking out for your friends:


1.       Make a plan. If you're going to a party, go with people you trust. Agree to watch out for each other and plan to leave together. If your plans change, make sure to touch base with the other people in your group. Don't leave someone stranded in an unfamiliar or unsafe situation.

2.       Protect your drink. Don't leave your drink unattended, and watch out for your friends' drinks if you can. If you go to the bathroom or step outside, take the drink with you or toss it out. Drink from unopened containers or drinks you watched being made and poured. It's not always possible to know if something has been added to someone's drink. In drug-facilitated sexual assault<https://www.rainn.org/articles/drug-facilitated-sexual-assault>, a perpetrator could use a substance that has no color, taste, or odor.

3.       Know your limits. Keep track of how many drinks you've had, and be aware of your friends' behavior. If one of you feels extremely tired or more drunk than you should, you may have been drugged. Leave the party or situation and find help immediately.

4.       It's okay to lie. If you want to exit a situation immediately and are concerned about frightening or upsetting someone, it's okay to lie. You are never obligated to remain in a situation that makes you feel uncomfortable, pressured<https://www.rainn.org/articles/how-respond-if-someone-pressuring-you>, or threatened. You can also lie to help a friend leave a situation that you think may be dangerous. Some excuses you could use are needing to take care of another friend or family member, an urgent phone call, not feeling well, and having to be somewhere else by a certain time.

5.       Be a good friend. Trust your instincts. If you notice something that doesn't feel right, it probably isn't. Learn more about how to keep your friends safe<https://www.rainn.org/get-information/sexual-assault-prevention/protecting-your-friends> in social settings.


For more information visit: https://www.rainn.org/articles/staying-safe-campus


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