If You are a Survivor of Violence
Immediate Help
Get to a safe place and call a friend to be with you.
If you know you want to report to the police, call 911. You will need to give your name and other information.
If you are not sure what you want to do, there are advocates available to talk with you about your options.
See Find Help at Your Campus that includes information about 24-hour contacts in your community.
If you have been sexually assaulted but you aren’t sure about reporting, be aware that obtaining a medical evidence exam soon is important for a legal case. Highly recommend not to eat, drink, bathe or clean up in any way. This is difficult, but preserves evidence. However, if you have already done these things, it’s still possible to find evidence.
If you have physical injuries from domestic or dating violence, these injuries are important to document for a legal case.
If you definitely do not want to report to the police, it is still a good idea to have a medical exam. However, all health care providers, including student health services, are legally required to report to the police any suspected sexual or physical assaults. This does not mean that you must talk to the police.
Reporting Options 
According to California state law, the right to an advocate is guaranteed for anyone who has experienced unwanted sexual contact. Advocates are available to accompany you throughout the reporting process and forensic exam.
The choice to report a sexual assault, to undergo a forensic exam, to participate in court proceedings, and to have an advocate present throughout the process are entirely your choice. If you are sexually assaulted, an advocate is always available to assist and support you.
NOTE: It can be helpful to keep a chronology of events and any relevant voice messages, text messages, emails and photos in case you want to report later.
Help for Survivors and their friends and family members
Whether or not you report to the police or to the University, think about talking to someone who is knowledgeable and trained to help you in the process of recovery. Advocates and Victim Services staff can help in the following ways:
- Crisis and long-term counseling
- Answers to questions about medical, legal and campus procedures
- Safety planning
- Assistance with academic and housing problems
- Accompaniment to interviews, medical exams, court and campus hearings
- Referrals to other services
Impact on Survivors 
Loss of power and control is the most devastating effect of stalking, dating and domestic violence, and sexual assault. It is accompanied by the violation of trust and the violation of physical, emotional and mental integrity. Recovering and healing from these crimes is a process that takes time.
Sexual violence may impact survivors in unique ways due to their gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, class, religion, immigrant status, age appearance, sexual orientation, religion, ability and past history of abuse and assaults. Feelings of shame and confusion may be exacerbated for members of marginalized and oppressed communities.
Male survivors of sexual assault, abusive relationships and stalking sometimes have doubts about their masculinity, or fear others will have doubts, because of common beliefs that men should be able to fight back and take care of themselves. This can also be a factor in reporting or getting help.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ) people are subject to the same spectrum of sexual violence as the general population. According to research, LGBTIQ people are at approximately the same risk as heterosexuals of being sexual assaulted by someone they know. People who identify as LGBTIQ could be afraid of further victimization based on their sexual orientation or gender identity if they report to law enforcement or seek advocacy services. Additionally, widespread homophobia and heterosexism in our society means that there is little support available to LGBTIQ survivors and that survivors may even have to fear harassment from the people they turn to for help. Recognizing the existence of sexual assault and domestic violence in the LGBTIQ community is the first step. Opportunities for LGBTIQ persons to become fully integrated into their communities are important aspects of prevention.
Research indicates that children and adults with physical, sensory, mental health and intellectual disabilities have higher rates of criminal victimization than the general population. Persons with disabilities struggle to find appropriate response services, or even someone who will believe them, in the aftermath of sexual violence. This can be especially difficult if the person hurting them is their attendant, a family member or someone they know.
Students, staff and faculty may have experienced childhood sexual molestation and abuse that was committed by older boys and girls or adult women and men. While child abuse is not the focus of this website, it does have lasting effects on the adult survivors in our communities.For more information on survivor impacts, see the section on Online Resources.
