What to Do If You Have Been Raped
Every rape survivor reacts
differently to rape, both immediately after the rape and
in the long term. You may feel anger, disbelief, anxiety,
fear, and countless other emotions. Should you be raped,
here are some guidelines:
- Get to a safe place. Go
to a friend's room or any other place where
people can give you emotional support.
- Get medical attention.
See a health care professional immediately for
treatment of any injuries and for other tests. Do
not bathe, shower, urinate, defecate, douche,
brush your teeth or change your clothes before
you go. The Health Center can be reached at 597-2206.
- Report the rape.
Reporting sexual assault can be an empowering act
for a survivor and can be an important factor in
preventing additional assaults. You can call the
Deans' Office (597-4171) or Security (597-4444),
and they will help you decide what to do next.
You can also contact the Williamstown Police
Department at 458-5733.
- Seek counseling. Whether or not you
report the rape and participate in legal action, you should talk
with a trained rape counselor. Sometimes it helps to also talk with
another rape survivor. Remember, rape is never the fault
of the survivor. The Williams College Rape and Sexual Assault Network
(597-4100) is available 24 hours a day.
Legal and
Institutional Recourse
A Williams student raped by
another Williams student can seek action from both the
state of Massachusetts and the College. These are
separate courses of action. A survivor may make the
decision to prosecute within the Massachusetts legal
system.
She or he may also seek
action from the college. The College cannot legally
prosecute an attacker on behalf of a survivor, but the
College can and will take its own disciplinary action at
the survivor's request. While any decision made by the
legal system may affect the College's decision on how to
deal with the attacker, it is important to realize that
differing verdicts may be reached.
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