Sexual Assault

Sexual assault will not be tolerated in the Rhodes community. It may be punishable by both civil and criminal legal action and constitutes a serious violation of the Standards of the Rhodes Community and the Sexual Harassment and Assault Policy.

What to do if you have been sexually assaulted:

• Go to a safe place. You will likely be in shock after a sexual assault. Go where you have friend you can trust. Do not bathe, shower, douche, urinate, defecate, or brush your teeth after the assault. It’s understandable that you will want to cleanse yourself, but before you do you will need to think about reporting the assault.
• Talk with someone you trust. Many people believe that assault is a taboo subject. However, that is not true! Talking with someone you trust will help you begin healing from the assault. Talking will also let people in your life know how to help you. A friend or trained counselor may also be able to help you sort through your thoughts about reporting it to the authorities.
• Seek medical help. Medical help is important to 1) ensure that you are physically okay, 2) preserve evidence in the event that you do want to report the crime, and 3) protect you from the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy.
• Consider your reporting options. If you are the victim of a sexual assault, report it immediately to Campus Safety at Ext. 3333. Rhodes College Campus Safety officers will treat all sexual assault complaints with the highest possible level of confidentiality.