<p class="title">Finding help after a sexual assault</p>
After experiencing a sexual assault, students have a lot of options. At OU, many reporting entities and campus resources work together, and OU students have access to several off-campus resources, as well. It's not always clear where to start the process of getting help.
There's no right answer to what to do after a sexual assault, but this tool aims to inform students about their many options after a sexual assault — from filing a formal report to getting counseling.
[[Talk to someone]]
[[Get medical help]]
[[Report to OU]]
Report to [[law enforcement]]
If you're in immediate danger, call <a href="tel:911">911</a>. For 24/7 help from a trained sexual assault service provider, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at <a href="tel:18006564673">1-800-656-4673</a> or <a href="https://hotline.rainn.org/online/terms-of-service.jsp" target="_blank">chat online</a>.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Talk to someone</p>
After experiencing an assault, you may simply want to talk to a trusted listener — an advocate, a friend, an RA, a professor or a counselor. It's important to note that many OU employees are mandatory reporters — if they learn of a sexual assault, they are obligated to report the information to the Title IX office.
**Talk to a mandatory reporter**
Almost all OU employees are considered <a href="http://www.ou.edu/eoo/reporting-responsibilities.html" target="_blank">mandatory reporters</a> — this means that when they learn about an alleged sexual assault, stalking, dating or domestic violence, sexual harassment, or gender discrimination, they are required to share that information with OU's Sexual Misconduct Officer, the Title IX coordinator or an associate Title IX coordinator.
Tell a [[professor or adviser]]
Talk to a [[resident adviser]]
Go to [[Title IX]]
**Talk to a confidential reporter**
Certain OU employees are exempt from mandatory reporting rules, including OU Advocates, counselors, physicians and clergy members engaging in such capacity with the reporter. These people *are not* obligated or required to share information about a sexual assault with anyone else — your experience is kept confidential with whomever you choose to share it. The Rape Crisis Center is not affiliated with OU, and therefore is not obligated to share information with OU.
Call [[OU Advocates]]
Talk to a [[counselor]]
Call the [[Rape Crisis Center]]
Want to know how best to help a friend who has confided in you that they were sexually assaulted? Here is [[some advice.]]
[[Explore another option]]
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Get medical help</p>
After a sexual assault, you may need immediate medical attention. You may also want to complete a sexual assault forensic exam, if you're interested in collecting evidence for an eventual report to law enforcement.
Here are a few of your options:
If you have injuries and need immediate medical attention, go to the [[emergency room]] at Norman Regional Hospital.
For a sexual assault forensic exam, go to the [[Rape Crisis Center]] at the Women's Resource Center, where a trained sexual assault nurses on staff will conduct the free, optional exam. The Rape Crisis Center can connect you to other resources, like counseling or help making a formal report.
Staff at [[Goddard Health Center]] can help a student prevent pregnancy or STDs after a sexual assault and can help with minor injuries. A doctor at Goddard Health Center can also refer a student to other resources, like [[OU Advocates]] or to see a [[counselor]] at the University Counseling Center.
[[Explore another option]]
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Reporting to OU</p>
A student has several options for reporting a sexual assault to OU — they can go directly to [[Title IX]], or they can tell a number of mandatory reporters at OU — for example, a [[resident adviser]], [[professor or adviser]] — who are obligated to share information with Title IX. The [[Student Conduct Office]] issues sanctions for students found by the Title IX Office to have violated OU's Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment policy.
[[Explore another option]]
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Explore another option</p>
Explore another option for getting help after a sexual assault. If you're in immediate danger, call 911. For 24/7 help from a trained sexual assault service provider, call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673 or <a href="https://hotline.rainn.org/online/terms-of-service.jsp" target="_blank">chat online</a>.
[[Talk to someone]]
[[Get medical help]]
[[Report to OU]]
Report to [[law enforcement]]
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Emergency room</p>
If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For OU students who live on or close to OU's Norman campus, the closest emergency room will be at Norman Regional Hospital, located at <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Norman+Regional+Hospital/@35.2301496,-97.4391496,15z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x0:0x2f751d1499968351?sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8oaaJivbWAhWLy4MKHeWcBxoQ_BIIhQEwDQ">901 N Porter Ave</a>.
**Where will I be referred after being treated at the emergency room?**
The hospital works with the [[Rape Crisis Center]] at the Women's Resource Center any time someone comes in after a sexual assault, according to hospital spokesperson Stephanie McGinnis.
If a person chooses to have a sexual assault forensic exam, the hospital will refer the survivor to the [[Rape Crisis Center]], where a sexual assault nurse can administer the exam, Norman Regional Hospital public relations coordinator Melissa Herron said. The exam is <a href="http://wrcnormanok.org/sexual-assault-exam/" target="_blank">free and optional,</a> and can be used to collect evidence in the event that a survivor wants to report the sexual assault to law enforcement.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Reporting to law enforcement</p>
Whether a sexual assault happens on or off campus, a survivor can go to law enforcement to file a formal report of the assault. They can decide whether to have the police investigate the assault, and if the department decides the case is prosecutable, the survivor gets some say in whether the district attorney chooses to prosecutes.
Report to the [[OU Police Department]]
If the assault happened on campus — in a residence hall, for example — a student can call OUPD or go to the police station to make a report.
Report to the [[Norman Police Department]]
If the assault happened off campus — at an off-campus apartment, for example — a student can call Norman PD to make a report.
[[Explore another option]]
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Rape Crisis Center</p>
The Rape Crisis Center at the Women's Resource Center is an off-campus option for getting help after a sexual assault, and it is open to people of all gender identities. The Rape Crisis Center is available 24/7 through the Sexual Violence Crisis Line: <a href="tel:4057015660">405-701-5660</a>
The Rape Crisis Center offers a number of resources, including advocacy, counseling, court advocacy and the sexual assault exam, said Courtney Foster, the director of the Rape Crisis Center.
**Where else might I be referred to from the Rape Crisis Center?**
An advocate can help a survivor report to [[law enforcement]] if they so choose. If they want, an advocate can be present with them while they make a report.
"If someone chooses to report to law enforcement either right after that crime happens, or if they want to report it months or years later, either way it's the same in that they are welcome to come into our Rape Crisis Center," Foster said. "It's community-based and very trauma-informed, and they can come in and we can call that law enforcement jurisdiction for them."
If the assault happened outside of local law enforcement jurisdiction, the Rape Crisis Center can help facilitate a report over the phone, Foster said.
**If I go to the Rape Crisis Center, do I have to make a formal report?**
No — as long as the survivor is over the age of 18, they are not required to make a report.
**What is the sexual assault exam?**
The <a href="http://wrcnormanok.org/sexual-assault-exam/">sexual assault</a> forensic exam is a free procedure for collecting DNA evidence after a sexual assault and giving medical care to the survivor. You *don't* need to report to law enforcement to have a sexual assault forensic exam, and the evidence can be stored should you decide to go to law enforcement later.
It's also important to note that you *don't* have to have a sexual assault forensic exam if you go to the Rape Crisis Center — it's simply one of the services offered.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Reporting to the OU Police Department</p>
**What's the first thing I can expect if I report to OUPD?**
When a student goes to OUPD to report a sexual assault, the first thing they can expect is to be informed of university resources like Title IX and OU Advocates.
Then, a student is asked if they want a police investigation.
**If I want an investigation, what types of questions will be asked?**
A survivor will be asked
— the details of what happened
— if there were any witnesses
A witness, according to OUPD spokesperson Bruce Chan, could be anyone who was there during or immediately before or after the sexual assault occurred. It could also be someone who was told about the assault after it happened.
**What happens next?**
OUPD would collect evidence — for example, clothes the survivor was wearing or bed sheets. An officer would take photos of the scene, and witnesses will be interviewed.
**Do I have a say in whether my assailant would be prosecuted?**
Yes — the survivor gets a say in the district attorney's decision to prosecute, Chan said. If a survivor *doesn't* want to pursue charges, the district attorney won't prosecute. If a survivor *does* want to pursue charges, the district attorney can still decide not to prosecute.
**How long does the reporting process take?**
The investigation could take anywhere from a few days or several weeks, Chan said.
**If I go to OUPD, do I have to file a formal report?**
No.
**Where else might OUPD refer me to?**
If a survivor wanted to complete a sexual assault forensic exam (sometimes called a "rape kit"), they could be referred to the [[Rape Crisis Center]] at the Women's Resource Center. If they had injuries or needed immediate medical attention, they could be referred to the [[emergency room]].
If the sexual assault did not occur within OUPD's jurisdiction — for example, in an off-campus apartment or in some greek houses — the survivor will be referred to the [[Norman Police Department]].
OUPD officers are mandatory reporters for sexual assault at OU, like nearly all OU employees, so officers are obligated to share information they learn about sexual assault with the university, OU Advocates coordinator Kathy Fahl said.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Reporting to the Norman Police Department</p>
An OU student wishing to report a sexual assault to the police can call the Norman Police Department if the assault occurred outside of the OU Police Department's jurisdiction — for example, at an off-campus apartment or in some greek houses. To reach Norman PD, call <a href="tel:911">911</a> or <a href="tel:14053211444">405-321-1444</a>.
A student might also be referred to Norman PD by [[OU Advocates]], from the hospital, the [[Rape Crisis Center]] or another resource. If a person is over the age of 18, they can choose *not* to report to police.
**What's the first thing I can expect if I report a sexual assault to Norman PD?**
A survivor who calls Norman PD to report a sexual assault can expect to have a patrol officer dispatched to them — an officer will come to the caller to learn the initial details of the assault, detective Ronald Collett said.
**What information does the department need for its initial report?**
The patrol officer's initial report will include information such as:
<ul><li>the crime that occurred — in this case, a sexual assault
<li>what jurisdiction the crime occurred in, and where the crime scene is
<li>who the suspect is</ul>
After that initial report is taken by the patrol officer, a supervisor in the department determines how quickly a detective needs to respond and begin an investigation.
**What if I don't want a police investigation?**
You can decide whether or not to have police investigate the assault — if you don't want an investigation to be conducted, one won't be conducted, Collett said.
**What does an investigation entail?**
The investigation will require at least one more interview with the survivor after the initial report.
"The thought is that after somebody's had a chance to rest, we maybe get some better information or maybe some things come to mind that they didn't initially remember," Collett said. "During this time, if we have forensic evidence, we would either examine that in our own lab or send that off to the state laboratory for examination."
Forensic evidence would come from a sexual assault forensic exam, generally performed at the [[Rape Crisis Center]] by a trained sexual assault nurse.
Evidence examination can take several months, so the investigations would be ongoing during that time, Collett said.
Once an investigation is complete, an investigator will take the findings to the district attorney if a survivor so chooses, Collett said.
"We present the facts of the case, and the district attorney's office makes a decision on whether to charge a suspect or say, this is not a prosecutable case, in which case the case will be closed," Collett said.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Reporting to the Title IX Office</p>
Title IX is a federal civil rights law prohibiting sex discrimination for education programs that get federal funding, and OU's Title IX Office ensures that OU is complying with that law.
To comply with Title IX, when an institution knows or reasonably should know about an incident of sexual misconduct — like sexual assault or sexual harassment — the school has to learn what occurred and respond appropriately. Therefore, when the Title IX Office learns of a potential violation of its <a href="http://www.ou.edu/content/dam/eoo/documents/SMDH%20Policy%20Final%203-8-2017.pdf" target="_blank">Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment Policy</a>, it's responsible for investigating that potential violation.
A student can <a href="https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?UnivofOklahoma&layout_id=10" target="_blank">make a Title IX report online</a>. The report can be made anonymously.
**What is the first thing I can expect if I go to the Title IX Office or the Sexual Misconduct Office to make a report?**
Survivors of sexual assault who wish to make a report to Title IX will be asked to come to an in-person meeting. In that first meeting, they'll be asked if they have any immediate health or safety concerns and will be encouraged to reach out to [[OU Advocates]] for help. Survivors will also be encouraged to report to the [[OU Police Department]] or the [[Norman Police Department]], though they don't have to report to [[law enforcement]], former assistant Title IX coordinator Kathleen Smith said.
The student will be informed of the Title IX/Sexual Misconduct Office investigation process, and if they would like to have an investigation, the office will begin investigating.
Whether the student wants an investigation or not, the Title IX Office can help facilitate a housing change, class section change or a no-contact order.
**What happens in the investigation?**
The student who makes the report will be asked to give information about what happened, as well as any evidence. They will also be asked to identify witnesses — people who were around them before the assault or who they told about the assault afterwards.
Then, the office reaches out to the accused student and notifies them that a complaint has been filed against them, Smith said. They are asked to come in for a meeting, where they are explained their rights and they are given an opportunity to explain what happened from their point of view, or provide evidence and witnesses.
Both students are kept updated with the proceedings, Smith said.
The accused student and the student making the reporter are never in the room at the same time, Sexual Misconduct Officer Amy O'Neill said. The investigators speak with both parties separately, and only the investigators ask the parties and witnesses questions during the investigation.
**Do I need to do a sexual assault forensic exam to report to Title IX?**
No, a sexual assault forensic exam (which can be given at the [[Rape Crisis Center]] in Norman) is optional, O'Neill said. If an individual has received one, they are encouraged to provide the results to investigators. If they choose not to have an exam or provide the results to the investigators, the office would not have access to the results of the exam.
**What happens when the investigation is over?**
If the office finds that the accused student did commit sexual assault — therefore violating OU's Sexual Misconduct, Discrimination and Harassment Policy — that finding is passed on to the [[Student Conduct Office]] to issue a sanction.
Even if a finding is not made, a survivor is allowed to keep any no-contact orders, class section changes or housing changes that were requested.
*Note: Kathleen Smith was the assistant Title IX coordinator at the time she was interviewed, but no longer works at OU.*
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Student Conduct Office</p>
After an investigation is conducted and a guilty finding is made by the [[Title IX]] office, the Student Conduct Office is responsible for issuing a sanction to the student found guilty.
When a finding is made, the student found guilty is emailed a "Charge letter," and they have five days to go to the Student Conduct Office, Director of Student Conduct Steve Ashmore said. In that meeting, the student would be given a sanction — for less serious accusations, those sanctions could be academic probation or suspension. For sexual assault, the student found guilty will be expelled, Ashmore said.
If the accused student believes they didn't do what they were accused of, or if they believe they did do what they were accused of but they don't believe they violated OU policy, they can request a hearing, Ashmore said.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Helping a friend</p>
If a friend tells you they've been sexually assaulted, it's OK not to have all the answers. GEC Director Kathy Fahl offered a few tips for helping a friend.
"Believe them, number one," Fahl said. "Let them make decisions about what they want to do next in the process."
Fahl said if you're not sure where to point your friend to get help, calling a resource like [[OU Advocates]] or the [[Rape Crisis Center]] can be helpful, because trained staff at either organization will be able to connect a survivor to resources they might need, like a forensic exam or counseling services.
Another piece of advice: "Accept if they don't want to do the things you think would be a great idea, like getting an exam or talking to the police," Fahl said.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">About this project</p>
This project, published in October 2017, was written and designed by Dana Branham, and it was reported over several semesters and staffs at the OU Daily. Also contributing to the reporting of this project were: Andrew Clark, Daisy Creager, Emma Keith, Jesse Pound and Supriya Sridhar.
Did we miss something? Is there more about the process of reporting a sexual assault you want to know? Did your experience with any of the resources mentioned in this project differ from how they were presented?
We'd love to hear from you. Give us your thoughts or tips — anonymously or not — using the form embedded below.
<iframe src="https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfLNpchpBIYw4x3Ct_kbR9JYqTooJRRKDpD3226L7z0qAUzCQ/viewform?embedded=true" width="100%" height="500" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0">Loading...</iframe>
This project was created with <a href="http://twinery.org/" target="_blank">Twine</a>, an open source platform for interactive, non-linear storytelling.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]]</p><p class="subtitle">Goddard Health Center</p>
A student who has been sexually assaulted can go to Goddard Health Center on campus if they need to be treated for injuries, potential STDs or potential pregnancy.
**What's the first thing I can expect if I call Goddard Health Center after being assaulted?**
If a survivor were to call Goddard and say they had been sexually assaulted, they would be told to come in right away, Goddard spokesperson Margaret Pool said.
**What kinds of questions would I be asked by a doctor?**
Any questions asked of the survivor would be related to their health, Pool said.
"We're not trying here to find out who the perpetrator is, it's more about medical concerns," she said. "We might have to ask questions about when it happened, because that's a medical concern — we need to know the date, because that could affect things like pregnancy and STDs."
**Where else might I be referred after going to Goddard?**
If a student wants a forensic exam — used to collect evidence if a student thinks they may want to go to law enforcement or press charges against their assailant — they will be referred to the [[Rape Crisis Center]].
A student will also be informed about resources that can be provided through [[OU Advocates]]. Trained advocates can serve as a trusted listener and help a student make a number of next steps, including reporting to [[law enforcement]], reporting to campus entities, filing a victim's protective order or even help with making a campus housing change.
If a student wants to talk with a counselor, a doctor at Goddard can refer them to a [[counselor]] at the University Counseling Center. Pool said a student in this situation could get an appointment with a counselor "very quickly."
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">OU Advocates</p>
OU Advocates is a group of staff advocates who help any member of the OU community who experiences sexual assault, harassment, dating violence or stalking. Advocates are on call 24/7 at <a href="tel:14056150013">(405) 615-0013</a>.
**What is the first thing I can expect if I call OU Advocates?**
The first thing an advocate will determine is whether you're safe — they'll ask if you're in a safe place and if you have any immediate medical needs, OU Advocates Coordinator Kathy Fahl said. Then, they'll ask what the nature of the call is, and a student can share as much or as little as they want.
"They can expect a compassionate person answering the phone, someone who's trained," Fahl said. "Really, listening to what the person is identifying as their needs is what we do as advocates."
An advocate will let the student (or any member of the OU community) know what resources are available to them. While this is not an exhaustive list, an advocate can help a student:
<ul>
<li>Set up an appointment with [[Title IX]]
<li>Make an emergency university housing change
<li>Set up an appointment to see a [[counselor]]
<li>Go to the [[Rape Crisis Center]] for a sexual assault forensic exam or other needs
<li>Report to [[law enforcement]]
<li>Get a victim's protective order and attend those court hearings with the student
</ul>
An advocate can set up such appointments for the student, or accompany them to meetings with, for example, Title IX or OUPD. If a student wants to set up those appointments or attend those meetings by themselves, that's OK too, Fahl said.
"Some people, that's one way they're taking that control is they're going to go down that path and make those calls," Fahl said. "Other people might be in a state of trauma where they're not able to do that and want an advocate to make those connections for them."
**Do I have to make a formal report if I call OU Advocates?**
No. A student who calls OU Advocates for help after a sexual assault doesn't need to give the advocate their name or any identifying information — the advocate can simply help point the student in the direction of other resources that can help them.
If a student wants to make a formal report to law enforcement or to OU, the advocate can help facilitate that process. If a student wants to report to OUPD or Norman PD, the advocate can go with them to the police station, or a patrol officer can meet the student and advocate in person wherever they are. If a student would like to go to Title IX, an advocate could set up a meeting or accompany the student to the Title IX office.
**If I want help setting up an appointment or getting a housing change, what will the advocate tell the other organizations about my situation?**
If a student wants a crisis counseling appointment or needs an emergency housing change, an advocate can relay that information to the departments on campus that need to know, but won't share details of the situation, Fahl said.
"We may call Housing and say, 'We need to do an emergency housing change,' but that's all they need to know," Fahl said. "They're not going to get any details of that change."
**Where can I go on campus to talk to an OU Advocate in person?**
All Gender + Equality Center staff are trained advocates (and therefore confidential reporters, so they are not obligated to report an assault to the university), Fahl said. Depending on the situation, if a student comes in for help, an advocate may start that process in person, or a staff member may call the OU Advocates number, Fahl said.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Counseling services at OU</p>
A student may be referred to OU's University Counseling Center at Goddard Health Center from another campus resource like [[OU Advocates]]. If a student already sees a counselor at the UCC and shares that they have been sexually assaulted, the counselor can refer them to other campus resources.
**If I tell a counselor about my experience being sexually assaulted, what can I expect?**
If a student tells a counselor at the UCC that they have been sexually assaulted, the counselor would be there to help a student work through that traumatic experience and refer them to other campus resources, director Scott Miller said.
"We would certainly talk with them about the psychological effects of the event and work on the road to recovery and work through a really traumatic experience," Miller said. "The other role we would have is make sure they were aware of campus resources. The counselor would inform them of the OU Advocates program and the support that they would get through that program, and we'd also let them know and give them contact information for the Title IX office if they wished to report the sexual assault."
**Do I have to make a formal report if I tell a counselor about being sexually assaulted?**
No. Counselors, physicians and other medical professionals are confidential reporters — they have no obligation to share information about a sexual assault with the university or law enforcement.
A counselor's role, Miller said, will be to give a student information they need to make their own decision about what to do next.
"We want to give the control back to the individual and let them know their options but not make them feel like they had to make any decisions," Miller said. "We just want them to know what their options were, and then we continue with counseling, provided that's what the person wanted."
**If I don't already see a counselor, can I get an appointment quickly after I have been sexually assaulted?**
Yes — Miller said if the University Counseling Center office knows someone is calling to see a counselor after being sexually assaulted, they can get that person an appointment "right away." A student could also be referred to counseling from [[OU Advocates]] or other campus resources.
Likewise, the process works in largely the same way at OU's Counseling Psychology Clinic, located off Highway 9, which serves both the Norman and OU communities. For now, the clinic remains open, but its future is uncertain — it faces a <a href="http://www.oudaily.com/news/ou-counseling-psychology-clinic-faces-possible-shutdown-after-program-suspension/article_fe6dacd6-8c45-11e7-9285-578bd1752f77.html" target="_blank">possible shutdown</a> by the end of the academic year.
If someone calls the psychology clinic to set up an appointment, they generally go through a 10-15 minute phone screen, former clinic director Lisa Frey said. They wouldn't need to share the details of that experience over the phone, Frey said.
"Someone isn't expected to tell us all the details of what they're coming for, but we ask them for a general reason they're coming," Frey said. "If someone said 'I need to talk to someone about being sexually assaulted,' and they don't want to talk about that any further until actually meeting the counselor, that's OK."
To make an appointment at the University Counseling Center, call <a href="tel:14053252911">405-325-2911</a> or visit its <a href="http://www.ou.edu/ucc.html" target="_blank">website</a>. To make an appointment at the OU Counseling Psychology Clinic, call <a href="tel:14053252914">405-325-2914</a> or visit its <a href="http://www.ou.edu/education/centers-and-partnerships/counseling-psychology-clinic.html" target="_blank">website</a>.
*Note: At the time she was interviewed, Dr. Lisa Frey was the director of the OU Counseling Psychology clinic. She has since stepped down from that role and will retire in December 2017.*
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Talk to a professor or adviser</p>
Professors and advisers — along with any OU employee who isn't an OU Advocate, licensed counselor, physician, clergy member engaging in such capcity or is otherwise designated as a confidential reporter — are mandatory reporters for sexual misconduct and harassment.
This means that if you share with a professor or adviser that you have been sexually assaulted, they are obligated to share that information with the [[Title IX]] Office.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p><p class="subtitle">Talk to a resident adviser</p>
**What is the first thing I can expect if I decide to tell my RA I have been sexually assaulted?**
If a student decides to share with their resident adviser — or any Housing and Food staff member — that they have been sexually assaulted, that staff member will immediately let the student know that they are a mandatory reporter and are obligated to share information about sexual misconduct with Title IX or the Sexual Misconduct Office.
**What kinds of questions will I be asked if I report through this method?**
The only question a student will be asked is: "What would you like to share with me?" associate director for Housing and Food Services Diane Brittingham said.
After that, a student would be connected with whichever resources they want, whether that's [[OU Advocates]], the [[OU Police Department]], or another option, Brittingham said.
The RA or other Housing and Food staff member would call their supervisor, who would call [[Title IX]] to make a report.
A student could go to their own RA or any other Residence Life staff member to get help after a sexual assault, Brittingham said.
<hr/> <p class="about">[[Home]] • [[About this project]]</p>