Behavioral Facts
The rapist is always responsible for having committed the rape.
Regardless of the victims' appearance, behavior, judgment or
previous actions, the victim is not responsible for the rape or
sexual abuse.
Forced sexual intercourse, whether by a friend or a stranger, is
rape. Studies indicate that nearly 90 percent of college women who
are raped know their assailant(s). Rape by someone the victim knows
is particularly traumatic because their trust in others and in
their own judgment may have been shattered.
Behavioral Guidelines
Do not make assumptions. Do not assume that the way a person
dresses or acts is an invitation for sexual advances. A person may
welcome some forms of sexual contact and be opposed to others. Do
not assume that an individual's prior consent to some form of
sexual contact in the past opens the door to any sexual contact in
the present.
Being under the influence of alcohol or other drugs is not an
excuse for abusive behavior. This includes rape or sexual
abuse.
A Clear Understanding of Consent is
Necessary:
Lack of consent to a sexual act results from:
- Forced compulsion including the use of physical force or threat
(expressed or implied) which places the person in fear of immediate
death or physical injury to self or another
- Incapacity to consent.
A person is deemed incapable of giving consent if they
are:
- Under the age of 17
- Mentally incapacitated (temporarily incapable of controlling
their own conduct owing to the influence of a narcotic or
intoxicating substance)
- Physically disabled
- Physically helpless (Unconscious or for any other reason
physically unable to communicate unwillingness to act.)
Trust your feelings. If you feel you are being pressured into
unwanted sexual activity, or if you feel you are pressuring someone
else, stop it.
Sexual abuse happens by the choice of the abuser. Perpetrators
must understand that their actions are destroying the dignity of
another person. Such violations can and must be prevented through
individual awareness and definitive campus community action.
Keep in mind:
- Control: Meet new acquaintances in public
places; always have alternative transportation to and from your
destination. Be aware of alcohol consumption yours and
theirs. Trust your instincts; and try to identify the reason for
feeling uneasy about a person or situation.
- Communicate: Make your sexual limits known. If
someone starts to offend you, be direct. Passivity may be wrongly
interpreted as permission. Partners should be in touch with their
feelings and be able to discuss those feelings with each other
openly and clearly.
- Concern: If you see a situation where an
individual is either incapable of making a decision on their own or
apparently being forced to do something, act to stop it.