Wildcat Orientation Guide • 15
Summer 2019
ORIENTATION | SEX-ED
Sexual assault resources for UA students BY PRIYA JANDU @Priya_J11
The University of Arizona has multiple resources across campus for students regarding sexual assault, harassment and violence. Resources like the Department of Equity, Inclusion & Title IX and the UA Police Department can help formally report instances of sexual assault. Campus Health Counseling and Psych Services and the Women and Gender Resource Center are also available to provide emotional support for any student impacted by assault, harassment or violence. UAPD/Tucson Police Department If a student feels unsafe on campus, they can contact UAPD directly by using the emergency blue light telephones on campus. Students can locate a blue light anywhere on campus and press the button that will put them in contact with a 911 dispatcher. If they feel unsafe staying near the blue light once they’ve pressed the button, they can go to another blue light. On campus, every blue light is visible from another blue light. UAPD can explain what rights victims have under the Arizona law if a student were to report sexual assault. They can also give students options regarding where to report their incident and outside resources both on and off campus. If students want to report an incident of sexual assault on campus, they should call 911 or (520) 621-8273. If students want to report an assault off-campus, they should call TPD at 911. Campus Health UA’s sexual assault and resources website states that providers at Campus Health can treat injuries, provide pregnancy and STI testing, prescribe medication and provide counseling through CAPS Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Campus Health cannot perform medical forensic exams because an exam prior to a medical forensic exam could affect evidence collection. Medical forensic exams are available at the Tucson Medical Center’s emergency room. Under the Violence Against Women Act, victims are allowed to seek medical treatment in order to collect evidence of sexual assault for free. To contact Campus Health, call (520) 621-6490. To contact TMC, call (520) 327-5461. The Southern Arizona Center Against Sexual Assault has a crisis line that can be contacted at (520) 327-7273.
Counseling and Psych Services “After a traumatic event, such as sexual harassment and/or assault, an individual may experience increased anxiety or fear,” Minnie Almader, a CAPS counselor, said. “Some people feel many confusing emotions . . . after a traumatic event.” Within CAPS, Oasis Sexual Assault and Trauma Resources provides counseling for students of any gender impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence and/ or stalking. The Oasis website states that students who have never been seen at CAPS or Oasis or have not been in six months need to book an appointment with a CAPS triage counselor or a walk-in screening service available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year. After the triage appointment, students can determine what treatment services they want to use. All counseling services are confidential, unless the individual reporting is under 18 or if staff feels they are in immediate danger to themselves or others. Each student has one free session available at CAPS and follow up sessions are available as needed, according to Almader. “Additional community referrals and resources are provided to all students,” Almader said. “Collaboration with University of Arizona resources such as the Survivor Advocates is also accessible to all students.” To contact CAPS, call (520) 621-6490. Women and Gender Resource Center The WGRC offers survivor advocacy as a resource for students who have been impacted by sexual and gender-based violence. Survivor advocacy provides academic accommodations, medical forensic exams, emergency housing, orders of protection, injunctions against harassment, nocontact orders and referrals to mental health services on campus. “We have overwhelming numbers of students who are impacted by sexual violence and don’t seek the resources they need, because they’re scared,” said Karyn Roberts-Hamilton, a survivor advocate. Survivor Advocacy can provide resources for students who choose to pursue legal action. The program provides confidentiality for students. Roberts-Hamilton called the program a good starting point for students who have experienced sexual violence on campus. To contact the Survivor Advocacy program, call (520) 621-5767 or email survivoradvocacy@email.arizona.edu.
JESUS BARRERA | THE DAILY WILDCAT
THE CAPS SERVICE, LOCATED on the third floor of the UA Campus Health building at 1224 E. Lowell St.
Department of Equity, Inclusion & Title IX Students can contact the Dean of Students Office for interim measures including no-contact orders, changes to on-campus housing, temporary emergency housing for off-campus students, changes to class or activity schedules, and interim suspension. The Dean of Students office can be reached at (520) 621-7057. Students can submit a complaint against other students through the Department of Equity, Inclusion & Title IX office. The UA’s Title IX website states that the Dean of Students office has a Title IX investigator. Students can report instances of sexual assault or violence that occurred on or off campus to the investigator. The investigator can take interim actions to aid students. The Office of Institutional Equity is where students can submit a complaint, concern or report if the situation at hand involved another person who is not a student. According to their website, to submit a complaint about an employee, visitor or non-student, the office of institutional equity requires a phone consultation or individual meeting to obtain information regarding the investigation and filing process. They can be reached at (520) 621-9449. UA’s student code of conduct’s definition of sexual assault and consent The Student Code of Conduct defines sexual assault as “any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. The Student Code of Conduct defines consent
as informed and freely given words or actions that indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity.” The code also defines what is and is not considered consent. Consent is defined as, “[in the context of sexual activity] informed and freely given words or actions that indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity.” The code states: “Consent may not be inferred from: 1) silence, passivity or lack of resistance, 2) a current or previous dating or sexual relationship, 3) acceptance or provision of gifts, meals, drinks, or other items or 4) previous consent to sexual activity. “Consent may be withdrawn during sexual activity. Consent to one form of consensual sexual activity does not imply consent to any other form od sexual activity. “Consent may not be obtained through physical force, violence, duress, itimidation, coercion, or an express of implied threat of injruy. “Consent may never be given by a person who is: incapacitated (by drugs, alcohol or otherwise), unconscious, asleep, or otherwise physically or mentally unable to make informed, rational judgments. The use of alcohol or drugs does not diminish one’s responsibility to obtain consent and does not excuse conduct that violates this Student Code of Conduct.”