What You Should Do If You Experience Sexual Violence
- You must receive medical attention immediately. You need to be screened for sexually transmitted diseases/pregnancy/traces of date rape drugs, obtain emergency contraception, and receive treatment for any physical injuries.
- Preserve evidence. Whether or not you decide to report/press charges, it is extremely important not to destroy evidence by washing or cleaning. Valuable physical evidence needs to be collected from you and your belongings so that it can be preserved for future police testing.
- Report the crime as soon as possible: Prompt reporting is encouraged so that APSU can maximize its ability to obtain evidence
and conduct a fair/impartial investigation. A suggested place to start is by reporting
the incident to the Title IX Coordinator or the Deputy Title IX Coordinator and the Campus Police. You can also complete the Sexual Violence Report Form to ensure you capture as much accurate information as you can. This form should
be turned into the people above when the complaint is filed.
- Confidentiality: APSU is committed to maintaining privacy, but there may be instances where investigation and action are needed even if you request anonymity or ask that no action be taken. If you decide to keep your report confidential, APSU may not be able to conduct an investigation or pursue action against your attacker.
- Amnesty: You may feel reluctant to report an incident of sexual violence if you were under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the incident, for fear of disciplinary action. A student who reports sexual violence either as a complainant or as a third party will not face disciplinary charges under APSU’s Student Code of Conduct.