Villanova University seeks to foster and maintain a community of mutual respect and concern for all of its members. There can be no greater violation of the terms of that community, or of the essential dignity of any member of it, than the act of sexual violence. Rape, attempted rape, and other violent sexual crimes constitute the deepest affront to University standards and will be treated accordingly. The University will not tolerate sexual violence in any form.

Defining Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is:

• Any physical sexual contact (intercourse, penetration of the genital, or indecent contact) that involves the use of force, threat of force or any other form of coercion or intimidation.
• Any physical sexual contact with another person without that person’s consent, or any such contact with a person who is unable to consent due to unconsciousness, incapacity or impairment, mental or physical. Incapacity or impairment can include, but is not limited to, being under the influence of alcohol or drugs to a degree which renders that person incapable of consent.

Rape is a form of sexual violence. Rape is often discussed as:

• Acquaintance rape. Most common form of rape in which the parties know each other, whether they are friends, partners, hallmates, etc.
• Date rape. More specific form of acquaintance rape that occurs between people who are in a dating relationship.
• Stranger rape. Least common form of rape in which both parties do not know one another.

Conduct constituting sexual violence is a crime in Pennsylvania. For more information about the criminal code, CLICK HERE.

Stats and Facts

Sexual violence is an act of control. It is not motivated by sexual desire, but by the desire to overpower and dominate another person. Read on for basis statistics and facts regarding sexual violence.

• Both men and women are sexually assaulted.
• 1 in 4 college women are survivors of attempted or completed sexual assault.
• 1 in 7 men will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.
• Fewer than 1% of acquaintance rapes are reported on college campuses.
• Alcohol is the #1 predatory drug.
• 1 in 12 high school-aged men and college-aged men admit to behaviors that meet the legal definition of sexual assault.

Statistics taken from: Fisher, BS, Cullen, FT, Turner, MG. 2000. The sexual victimization of college women. Washington: Department of Justice (US), National Institute of Justice; Publication No. NCJ182369.

How to Help a Friend

• Remain calm and alert.
• Get to a safe place: your home, your residence hall room, or the residence of a trusted friend.

Because preservation of physical evidence is of the utmost importance, you should:

• NOT change your clothing.
• NOT shower.
• NOT apply medication to injuries that have been sustained unless absolutely necessary.
• NOT disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.
• NOT drink or chew gum.
• NOT store your clothing in anything other than a paper bag. Plastic and other materials may destroy evidence.
• Get medical attention as soon as possible to make sure that you are physically healthy.
  • Contact the Student Health Center at 610-519-4070 or visit their office on the third floor of the Health Services Building. Medical professionals are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
  • Medical attention at the local hospital is required in order to preserve valuable evidence should you decide to seek prosecution through the criminal justice system. It is important to know if you go to the hospital, the local police will be contacted.
  • Bryn Mawr Hospital provides professional medical services to anyone who is sexually assaulted. The Villanova Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC) or VEMS is available for transport to the hospital.
  • If you suspect that you may have been given a predatory drug like Rohypnol or GHB, please let the Student Health Center or Bryn Mawr medical staff know.
    • A urine sample can be collected within 72 hours of a sexual assault for predatory drug testing.
    • Please note: if you have predatory drug testing done at the Student Health Center, any costs associated with the testing are covered by the University.
• Seek free, confidential counseling at the Holloway Counseling Center.
  
• Call 610-519-4050 or stop by 206 Health Services Building.
  • Help is available for the person assaulted and for a person’s friends who are concerned about her/him.
  • Rape trauma syndrome may occur several weeks, months and even years after the incident. Seek counseling any time to help you or your friend.
• Call Public Safety at 610-519-6670 to speak with the SARC.

• Speak with a POWER peer educator. POWER peer educators are trained to serve as a resource for their students on the issue of sexual violence and can help direct you to the appropriate resources on campus.
  • You may identify a POWER peer educator by calling 610-519-7407, by asking your RA or by visiting Health Promotion, located on the first floor of the Health Services Building.
    

To learn more about rape trauma syndrome and emotional reactions to sexual violence, please visit the Counseling Center's sexual violence information page.

Policy & Protocol

What to expect when reporting an incident of sexual violence at Villanova:

• You will be treated with care and support.
• You will not be forced to take any action that you are not comfortable taking.
• You will be advised of both medical and counseling services that are available to you, both on and off campus.
• You will be encouraged to talk to the Sexual Assault Resource Coordinator (SARC), a Public Safety investigator and the University’s Deputy Title IX Coordinator.
  • The SARC will discussion your options (on-campus disciplinary action, off-campus police involvement, etc.).
  • The SARC will present options to you but will not tell you what to do. You will be able to decide later what, if any, action you want to pursue.

• In general, it will be up to you to decide whether you wish to pursue an investigation through Public Safety, local police or both. In some cases, such as when the incident suggests an ongoing threat to the University community, an investigation of the incident may still occur. Working through the SARC, you will be encouraged to cooperate with Public Safety should an investigation occur.
• If you decide to be treated at a local hospital, you will have the option to contact the SARC. Be aware that the hospital is obligated to contact the local police.
• Timely reporting is of critical importance, since proof of criminal offense requires that local police collect and preserve evidence immediately after an assault. Ideally, you should not wash, douche, use the toilet or change your clothing prior to a medical exam.

Getting Involved

Education can lead to prevention. The Office of Health Promotion on Villanova’s campus provides educational materials and resources to the campus community on many topics such as sexual violence. To assist with these educational endeavors, Health Promotion trains students each year to be POWER peer educators.

Peers Offering Wellness Education and Resources (POWER)

• provides presentation in the residence halls, classrooms, and in the community;
  
• sponsors awareness months and campaigns;
  
• distributes educational materials around campus
  
• refers students to the appropriate resources.
  

If you would like more information on POWER, click here or please call 610-519-7407.

In an effort to provide preventative programming with regard to sexual violence, general safety and self-defense education, the SARC is also available to provide programming to students, staff and faculty. To schedule a R.A.D. (Rape Aggression Defense) class or discuss other program opportunities through Public Safety, please call 610-519-6670.

***************BE AWARE OF THE RED ZONE!*************

The first six weeks of a student’s first year of college is a vulnerable time and carries the most risk for sexual violence. Students are unfamiliar and uncomfortable in their new environment and may make decisions that put them at greater risk for intoxication, risky sexual decision-making and sexual violence.

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