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Because rape is everyone's problem.
It is important for all Penn State students to know where to turn for help and what to do if they or a friend are raped. Whether the rapist was a stranger, acquaintance, close friend, or date, there are certain services you need to know about in order to get the treatment you need.
Penn State University Park Campus offers a student victim of sexual assault medical treatment, emotional support, and access to legal information. Health care options, resources for psychological care, and sources of legal information are summarized below. You may wish to review them and contact the various services as you need them while you are healing from the rape experience.
All services to sexual assault victims are confidential; however, hospital personnel are required by law to report rapes to the police. It is the victim's choice, however, whether or not to talk to the police.
It is important to seek medical attention immediately after and as a follow-up to sexual assault to determine the presence of physical injury, sexually transmissible diseases, or pregnancy, and to obtain evidence to assist in criminal prosecution. Ideally, physical evidence should be collected immediately, but it should be collected no later than seventy-two hours following a rape.
Within the first seventy-two hours after an assault, a special exam should be conducted that includes the collection of evidence that may be used in criminal prosecution. This special exam is recommended to evaluate your physical condition as well as maintain all your legal options. The exam is performed by an emergency department physician. A nurse is present throughout the procedure and a same-sex friend and/or advocate also may be present.
The exam is available to Penn State students at the Mount Nittany Medical Center Emergency Department, located at 1800 E. Park Avenue, northeast of Beaver Stadium. The Centre Community Hospital Emergency Department follows national standards for victim care and is a recognized location for the rape exam and evidence collection in Centre County.
If you are a woman and have been raped, there is a risk for a resulting pregnancy. There is a medication that may reduce this risk by as much as 75%. It is called Emergency Contraceptive pills or ECP. It must be administered within 72 hours of the rape to be effective. The ECP is available from the Women's Health Department on campus. Call 863-2633 for more information.
If you suspect that you were unwillingly given a drug in order to incapacitate you, you may receive free drug screening through University Health Services. To accurately detect the most common drug associated with sexual assault (Rohypnol) the urine test must be done within 72 hours of ingestion. Women should call Women's Health for further information and men should contact the General Medicine Department at 863-0774.
Cost
Your private health insurance may cover the cost of the exam, follow-up care, and transportation. However, to protect your privacy, the University has arranged with Centre Community Hospital to have the University pay for the exam and medical tests. Additionally, certain follow-up tests provided by University Health Services and related to the rape will be paid for by the University. If additional medical care beyond the initial rape exam and tests is required, expenses may be covered by the Pennsylvania Crime Victims Compensation Fund or your private health insurance.
Transportation
Transportation options paid for by Penn State include an ambulance or a taxi (if you are accompanied by a friend). The ambulance can be reached by calling 911. Tell the person answering that you are a Penn State student. To arrange for a taxi voucher, call University Health Services at 863-4463. Taxi vouchers also are available at Centre Community Hospital. Another option is the Centre County Women's Resource Center, which has trained volunteers who can transport and accompany sexual assault victims to the hospital. Their 24-hour hotline number is 234-5050.
Male Victims
While most victims of sexual assault are women, some men also are victims. It is important for men to know that male victims at Penn State are accorded the same services as women, including transportation and payment provisions. Male victims are eligible for the special exam at Centre Community Hospital, with follow-up or later care provided at University Health Services in the General Medicine department, First Floor, Ritenour Building, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. If you say that you have been a victim of sexual assault, you will receive priority over routine patients. All other support services, including emotional support and legal assistance, also are available for male victims.
Follow-Up Care
After the initial treatment for rape, it is critical that the victim receive follow-up care. The testing done immediately after an assault or within a few days does not necessarily identify all potential problems that could result from a rape. A follow-up exam and testing two weeks after the rape affords the opportunity to find medical problems such as infections that may have gone undetected during the initial exam. Follow-up exams should be scheduled at University Health Services regardless of where the initial exam took place. Women should contact Women's Health and men should contact the General Medicine Department. Specify that you are a recent victim of sexual assault in order to get an appointment at your convenience.
If you have been raped, you may be feeling:
- a variety of strong emotions--fear, anxiety, depression, guilt, disorientation, powerlessness, shame, shock, disbelief, embarrassment, denial, anger;
- a number of physical problems--sleep disturbances, nausea, stomach problems, change in eating habits, nightmares;
- confused and alone, wondering if or how you should tell your family and friends;
- that, even though the rape occurred a while ago, you would now like to talk to someone about what happened.
Whatever your feelings, there are support services available to help you.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides services to students about a range of personal concerns and is available to provide psychological support to you in crisis situations such as rape. Appointments for counseling services can be arranged by calling 863-0395 or by going to 221 Ritenour Building between 8:00 a.m.and 5:00 p.m. If you specify that it is an emergency situation or that you are in crisis, you can be seen the same day by a staff member. The CAPS staff includes licensed psychologists, clinical social workers, a rape crisis counselor, and psychiatric providers. CAPS therapists will help you deal with the emotional aftermath of rape and explore your options for legal action and medical care. Therapy groups for victims of sexual assault or incest are offered regularly.
The Center for Women Students offers information, referrals, and advocacy for sexual assault victims. Information regarding academic options following a sexual assault is also available through the center. The center, located in 102 Boucke Building, is open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can call for an appointment at 863-2027.
Off Campus
The Centre County Women's Resource Center is a community agency with a 24-hour hot line (234-5050) staffed with volunteers who are trained to help you through the process of dealing with the emotional, legal, and medical issues of sexual assault. They can accompany you to the hospital and court proceedings. They also provide information, short-term counseling, referrals for longer-term counseling, and support groups for women who have been victims of sexual assault and incest.
Police services within the Department of University Safety and off-campus local police departments are available twenty-four hours a day to aid victims of sexual assault. The police can ensure your safety at the scene of the rape and accompany you to the hospital. The emergency telephone number is 911 for University Police as well as for State College and surrounding communities. The police also may call Penn State's Victim/Witness Advocate to meet you at the hospital to provide support and answer your questions.
On and Off Campus
Police departments in the jurisdiction where the rape occurs are in charge of investigating rapes and sexual assaults. The results of the emergency rape exam and evidence collection may be helpful in the police investigation to identify the assailant when the assailant's identity is unknown. You can call the police at 863-1111 on campus or 234-7150 in State College.
On Campus
The Victim/Witness Advocate is available to offer support, information, and referrals for medical, emotional, and legal services. The advocate can help you understand legal and court procedures and accompany you to all proceedings. The advocate is located in the Eisenhower Parking Deck and can be reached at 865-1864.
Judicial Affairs assists in setting standards for student behavior that help maintain a safe university environment. If the suspect is a student, a victim can file a complaint against the alleged rapist through Judicial Affairs. Disciplinary action is taken with due process and can include separation of the assailant from the University and removal from University property. The office is in 135 Boucke Building and office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The phone number is 863-0342. Penn State's Victim/Witness Advocate can accompany the victim to University disciplinary hearings in Judicial Affairs.
Off Campus
The District Attorney's Office presents the state's case against accused rapists and others suspected of committing crimes.The district attorney (DA) evaluates the evidence and decides on the possibility of successful prosecution. The county's Victim/Witness Advocate, located in the DA's office, acts to ensure that the victim's rights to information and restitution under the law are met. The advocate will also accompany a victim to court. The DA's office is located in 404 Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte. The daytime phone is 355-6735. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. or by appointment.
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