The Common Room

Happy Valentine’s Day U-Hall!

There is no “right time” to bring up the issue of sexual assault. So, I thought why not now when people maybe thinking of love, romance and healthy relationships.

You’re probably about to stop reading this entry, because you think that this issue is irrelevant to you. Sexual assault is something that happens to other people, right? You don’t know anyone who has been sexual assaulted, right? You will never be sexually assaulted, right?

I sincerely hope that you or someone you know never experiences sexual violence. Although, the reality is… • One in 4 college-aged women report experiences that meet the legal definitions of rape or attempted rape. • One in 5 college women are raped during their college years. • 10% of all adult rape survivors are male. Think about it.

If you or someone you know is a survivor of sexual assault, these are some tips on how to deal with the situation.

How to help a friend: • Listen, support, and believe him or her. • Let your friend know it was not his or her fault and that he or she is not alone. • Tell your friend he or she is brave for talking about what happened. • Encourage your friend to seek medical attention at the hospital, where a rape kit can be performed, or at the NYUHC, for a routine examination. • Encourage your friend to report to the police. • Encourage your friend to seek out support services. • Let your friend share details as he or she feels comfortable. • Let your friend decide how he or she would like to handle the situation. • Let your friend decide who he or she wants to know about his or her experience. • Take care of yourself. Seek counseling and other services for yourself and know your boundaries. • Offer to help your friend contact any of the following resources: Wellness Exchange, Health Promotion Office, Protection Services, NYPD, a local hospital, NYUHC, RA/CDE, UCS, Crime Victims Board.

My name is Azaa’a Camp and I am the 11th floor RA at U-Hall for the 2008-2009 academic year. I am also a Peer Educator trained as a Sexual Health Advocate (SHA) and a Sexual Assault Educator (SAE) through NYU’s Health Promotion Office (HPO). If you have any questions or concerns related to what I have written about this week, please feel free to email me at ac1865@nyu.edu or stop by my room, 1105.

Additionally, NYU Wellness Exchange has a 24/7 hotline that you can call, 212-443-9999.