What To Do If You've Just Been Sexually Assaulted

Get to a safe place. Your safety is most important!
Contact someone who can help you:
- Police: 911 or 855-1111
- BSU Victim's Advocate: 285-7844 (Michele Cole)
- The Counseling Center: 285-1736 (business hours or 747-1330 (after-hours)
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE
- A friend
Get medical attention. Even with no physical injuries, it is important to determine the risks of STD's and pregnancy.
If you want to take legal action:
- BSU's Victim Advocate can help you through this process
- To preserve forensic evidence, ask the hospital to conduct a rape kit exam. This must be done within 72 hours of the occurrence of the assault.
- If you suspect that you may have been drugged, ask that a urine sample be collected. The sample will need to be analyzed later on by a forensic lab.
- Write down everything that you remember happening, with as much detail as possible. This can help with your own healing process and in any legal action you might decide to take.
If you don't want to press charges…
- You can still have a rape kit done, in case you change your mind later about taking legal action
- You can also contact the BSU Ombudsperson (285-1545), who can discuss your options about taking action through the university rather than the legal system
Recognize that healing from rape takes time. Give yourself the time you need.
Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline, operated by RAINN, for free, confidential counseling, 24 hours a day: 1-800-656-HOPE; www.rainn.org