We all can make a difference in stopping sexual violence. Most sexual assaults and rape are committed by someone the victim knows, not by a stranger, and many involve situations where drinking and drug use is occurring. Here are some important tips to remember:
- Talk to your friends honestly and openly about sexual assault.
- Don’t just be a bystander. If you see something, intervene in any way you can.
- Trust your gut. If something looks like it might be a bad situation, it probably is.
- Be direct. Ask someone who looks like they may need help if they are okay.
- Get someone to help you if you see something—like a friend, a bartender, or host to help step in.
- Keep an eye on someone who has had too much to drink.
- If you see someone who is too intoxicated to consent, enlist their friends to help them leave safely.
- Recognize the potential danger of someone who talks about planning to target another person at a party.
- Be aware if someone is deliberately trying to intoxicate, isolate, or corner someone else.
- Get in the way by creating a distraction, drawing attention to the situation, or separating them.
- Understand that if someone does not or cannot consent to sex, it’s rape.
- Never blame the victim.
To join thousands of people across the country in signing a pledge to end sexual violence, go to http://www.itsonus.org.
To learn more about what you can do, check out the following resources:
- Circle of 6: A Free App to Keep You Safe
- Step Up: Sexual Assault Bystander Intervention: More Strategies to Stop Sexual Violence
- That’s Not Cool: Dealing with Sexual Harassment in a Mobile World
- Know Your IX: Information on Title IX
If you have additional questions, please contact the Title IX Team at TitleIX@Missioncollege.edu