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Porterville COllege Sexual Assault Awareness

Safety Campaign

This presentation includes reading, videos, web links, and other content regarding sexual assault. It is possible that something you read/watch during this presentation will trigger an emotional response, whether or not you have experienced sexual violence yourself. Please seek help if needed.

PC student and employee recourses:

Sexual Assault Awareness-Speak Out!

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, otherwise known as SAAM. During this month, people across the United States raised awareness about sexual violence, how to prevent it, and how to support those who are affected by it. Please take a moment to learn more about this critical topic.

Select on the blow boxes for additional resources

Federal Laws that Protect You on Campus

Title IX: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in federally funded educational programs and activities. Title IX declares that sexual harassment and sexual violence are prohibited forms of gender discrimination. Sex discrimination can include sexual harassment or sexual violence, such as rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.

Violence Against Women Act: The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is a federal law that supports response to crimes of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking. It was signed into law in 1994 and has been reauthorized in 2000, 2005, and 2013.

The Jeanne Clery Act: The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act is a federal statute requiring colleges and universities participating in federal financial aid programs to maintain and disclose campus crime statistics and security information.

Understanding Sexual Violence

In California, sexual assault is defined as touching the intimate part of another person against that person's will and for the specific purpose of sexual arousal, sexual gratification, or sexual abuse. This is a misdemeanor sexual battery under the California sexual assault laws.

Sexual violence (SV) is a significant problem in the United States. SV refers to sexual activity when consent is not obtained or not given freely.

Anyone can experience SV, but most victims are female. The person responsible for the violence is typically male and usually someone known to the victim.

Staying Safe on Campus

College campuses can give you a sense of security—a feeling that everyone knows each other and watches out for one another. There are perpetrators who take advantage of this feeling of safety and security to commit acts of sexual violence.

We can all take steps to increase safety on college campuses. As bystanders, students can learn ways of stepping in to prevent crimes like sexual assault from occurring.

College Statistics

Sexual Violence Impacts Everyone: Sexual violence affects millions of Americans. Every 73 seconds an American is sexually assaulted (RAINN). According to the National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS), nearly 1 in 2 women and 1 in 5 men experienced sexual violence victimization other than rape at some point in their lives.

Campus Sexual Violence: Statistics

  • 13% of all students experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation (among all graduate and undergraduate students)
  • Among graduate and professional students, 9.7% of females and 2.5% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation.
  • Among undergraduate students, 26.4% of females and 6.8% of males experience rape or sexual assault through physical force, violence, or incapacitation
  • Women ages 18-24 who are college students are 3 times more likely than women in general to experience sexual violence. Females of the same age who are not enrolled in college are 4 times more likely.

Select the below box to learn more about College Sexual Violence:

Additional Facts:

Women and Girls Experience Sexual Violence at High Rates. As of 1998, an estimated 17.7 million American women had been victims of attempted or completed rape.

Transgender Students Are at Higher Risk for Sexual Violence. 21% of TGQN (transgender, genderqueer, nonconforming) college students have been sexually assaulted, compared to 18% of non-TGQN females, and 4% of non-TGQN males.

Select the below box to learn more about Sexual Assault & the LGBTQIA Community:

Men and Boys Are Also Affected by Sexual Violence. About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime and 1 out of every 10 rape victims are male.

Victims Often Know the Person who Sexually Assaults Them: People who sexually abuse can be family members, friends, romantic partners, or other trusted individuals. They may use coercion, manipulation, threats, or force to commit sexual violence.

Victims Are Never the Blame: It doesn’t matter what someone was wearing, how they were acting, if they were drinking, or what type of relationship they had with the person who abused them.

Sexual Assault is Often not Reported

A person may not report what happened for many reasons, including:

  • Concern they won't be believed
  • Fear of retaliation
  • Distrust of law enforcement
  • Shame or fear of being blamed

Steps You Can Take to Prevent Sexual Assault

Create a distraction

Do what you can to interrupt the situation. A distraction can give the person at risk a chance to get to a safe place.

  • Cut off the conversation with a diversion like, “Let’s get pizza, I’m starving,” or “This party is lame. Let’s try somewhere else.”
  • Bring out fresh food or drinks and offer them to everyone at the party, including the people you are concerned about.
  • Start an activity that is draws other people in, like a game, a debate, or a dance party.

Ask directly

Talk directly to the person who might be in trouble.

  • Ask questions like “Who did you come here with?” or “Would you like me to stay with you?”

Refer to an authority

Sometimes the safest way to intervene is to refer to a neutral party with the authority to change the situation, like a security guard.

  • Talk to a security guard, bartender, or another employee about your concerns. It’s in their best interest to ensure that their patrons are safe, and they will usually be willing to step in.
  • Don’t hesitate to call 911 if you are concerned for someone else’s safety.

Enlist others

It can be intimidating to approach a situation alone. Enlist another person to support you.

  • Ask someone to come with you to approach the person at risk. When it comes to expressing concern, sometimes there is power in numbers.
  • Ask someone to intervene in your place. For example, you could ask someone who knows the person at risk to escort them to the bathroom.
  • Enlist the friend of the person you’re concerned about. “Your friend looks like they’ve had a lot to drink. Can you check on them?”

What To Do If Sexually Assaulted

The Kern Community College District and Porterville College do not condone or tolerate any sexual assault (rape, fondling, incest, or statutory rape), dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking. Members of our communities who may be victims of sexual assault shall be treated with dignity.

If you are in danger or need help now, call 911. If you've experienced sexual violence and are not in immediate danger, find services and get help on campus.

Contact PC Safety & Security or Law Enforcement

Contact Porterville College Office of Public Safety (PCOPS) or the Porterville Police Department for assistance with reporting the incident. Reports of all sex offenses made to PCOPS will be referred to the Title IX Coordinator for investigation, regardless of the complainant’s choice to pursue criminal charges. PCOPS and the Title IX Coordinator will assist the victim in contacting the correct law enforcement agency, if requested. Victims have the right to decline to report any crime at any time.

Medical Care

After a sex offense incident, victims should seek medical attention right away. Go to the nearest emergency room for a physical exam and possible collection of evidence. An official from Porterville College can take you if you would feel more comfortable. Healthcare professionals will check for physical trauma, sexually transmitted diseases, and possible pregnancy.

Counseling

The Title IX Coordinator can assist you with setting up counseling services that are free of charge and confidential. If you choose to seek out your own private counseling, costs may be associated. If you are not comfortable talking with a counselor, consider talking with a trusted friend or family member. Counseling is often crucial to the recovery process. Survivors are encouraged to see the assistance of qualified professionals, even if many years have elapsed since the incident.

Academic Options

If the incident and its aftermath begin interfering with your ability to complete your academic coursework, the Title IX Coordinator or the Vice President of Student Services may be able to help you explore academic relief options. Such accommodations are reasonably available regardless of whether a report has been filed or not.

Confidentiality

Survivors may request that their directory information with the College be kept confidential by submitting a request to Admissions & Records. Engaging this request means that personally identifiable information is only shared with other college officials on a need-to-know basis. Those officials include, but are not limited to, those that are investigating the incident, those that are providing support services, and those that are providing accommodations or protective measures for the victim. This allows the College to maintain the victim’s confidentiality while continuing to assist with mitigation of the incident.

Created By
Todd Dearmore
Appreciate
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