What is sexual assault?
In its simplest definition, sexual assault is unwanted sexual contact. Sexual assault includes the act of rape (oral, anal, or vaginal intercourse without consent) or forced penetration by a foreign object (including a finger). It also includes non-penetrating acts such as touching an unwilling person's sexual parts (e.g. breast, buttocks, genitalia), naked or through clothing, or forcing an unwilling person to touch another's sexual parts. Force includes the use of physical aggression, threats of physical aggression, or sexual contact with a person who is unable to consent (e.g. unconscious, too intoxicated to consent, asleep, etc.). Non-forceful coercion can also be used, for example, threatening to reveal secrets, to tell others that the victim and perpetrator had sexual intercourse, to fire an employee or fail a student (these cases also fit the definition of sexual harassment) or threatening the victims friends or family members are all forms of coercion.
Who commits a sexual assault?
Sexual assaults are committed by both strangers AND people the victim knows. In fact, the vast majority of rapes and sexual assaults are committed by someone the victims knows, ranging from friends and acquaintances to dates, romantic partners, and spouses or domestic partners.
Who are victims of sexual assault?
Although people often think of rape as something that only happens to women, this is not the case. Both men and women are sexually assaulted, as are people of every ethnicity, age, culture, religion, economic background, or sexual orientation.
Even if I have not been hurt seriously physically, could I still have been sexually assaulted?
YES. ANY sexual contact forced upon you by someone against your will is illegal, against the Stony Brook Student Code of Conduct and against Stony Brook University Policy. It is illegal and wrong, even if you have been sexual with that person in the past or are currently being sexual, but don’t wish to go past certain limits. Examples include:
- A stranger grabs your breast at a party or in a bar
- A date insists that you have sex even after you tell them you don't want to
- Your romantic partner of 4 years forces you to have sex
- Someone gets you drunk or slips a rape drug into your drink in order to get you to have sex with them
Can a sexual assault occur between two people of the same sex?
Yes, although people typically think of a man assaulting a woman, rape and sexual assault occur between people of the same-sex as well. As with opposite sex sexual assault, the majority of same-sex sexual assault occurs between people who know each other or who are intimately involved.
What can I do if I've been sexually assaulted?
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, or if think you have been, but are not sure, it's important to talk to someone. Counselors are available at the Wo/men's and Gender Resource Center, as well as the University Counseling Center. These resources can help you recover from the assault and can assist you in finding legal services and pressing charges if you choose to do so. If you don't feel comfortable talking to someone face-to-face there is also an anonymous hotline available. See the Resources page on this Sexual Assault Website.
THINGS TO REMEMBER:
- Students who report a sexual assault are not required to press charges.
- At Stony Brook University, survivors of sexual assault are taken to Mather Hospital where they have a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (S.A.N.E.) Program.
- A SANE nurse is a registered nurse specially trained to provide care to sexual assault patients. The sexual assault nurse examiner conducts medical forensic examinations and can serve as an expert witness.
- In Suffolk County, this program is only available at Mather, Good Samaritan, and Peconic Bay hospitals.
- 96 hours is the timeframe for evidence collection in NY State; however this evidence can be held for at least 90 days.
- GO TO a SANE SITE and get an EXAM! DECIDE about reporting later!
How long do I have to report a sexual assault?
A survivor can report at different points of time after the assault. However it is important to remember that The time frame for evidence collection in NY State is 96 hours. Even if this time has passed it is still important to report because your’s or another student’s safety may be in jeopardy. In addition, seeking professional help will assist in the recovery process.
Survivors of sexual assault exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses. They may be: calm, apathetic, confused, shocked, angry, or feel guilt and shame. Each individual may respond differently and how the community responds to an individual’s crisis can have a significant impact on the individual's ability to recover from crisis.