Reducing Risk
Dating and domestic violence
Dating/Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behaviors used to exert power and control over a partner. It can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure or wound someone.
• Be aware. Does your partner: Threaten to hurt you or your children? Say it’s your fault if they
hit you and then promises it won’t happen again (but it does)? Put you down in public?
Force you to have sex when you don’t want to? Follow you? Send you unwanted messages and
gifts?
• Be assertive. Speak up.
• Stay sober and watch out for dates and/or anyone who tries to get you drunk or high.
• Clearly communicate limits to partners, friends, and acquaintances.
• Never leave a party with someone you don’t know well and trust.
• Trust your feelings; if it feels wrong, it probably is.
• Learn all you can and talk with your friends. Help them stay safe.
• Report incidents of violence to law enforcement and campus authorities.
Sexualized violence
Sexual contact requires mutual and Affirmative Consent. An incapacitated person (for example, a person under the influence of drugs or alcohol) may be incapable of giving consent. Whether an intoxicated person (as a result of using alcohol or other drugs) is incapacitated depends on the extent to which the alcohol or other drugs impact the person’s decision-making capacity, awareness of consequences, and ability to make fully informed judgments. No one deserves to be sexually assaulted, stalked or victimized in any way.
• Go to a safe place as soon as possible.
• Preserve evidence.
• Report the incident to University Police or local law enforcement.
• Report the incident to your campus Title IX Coordinator.
• Call/visit the campus Sexual Assault Victim's Advocate.
• Call a Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault or Stalking hotline.
• Call a friend or family member for help.
• Know that you are not at fault. You did not cause the abuse to occur and you are not
responsible for someone else’s violent behavior.
These suggestions may help you to reduce your risk of being accused of sexual misconduct:
• Don’t engage in any behavior that may be considered Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating
Violence, Stalking or any other form of Sexual Misconduct or violence.
• Never use force, coercion, threats, alcohol or other drugs to engage in sexual activity.
• Take responsibility for your actions.
• Remember “no” means “No!” and “stop” means “Stop!”
• Don’t mistake submission or silence for Affirmative Consent.
• Avoid alcohol and other drugs.
• Discuss Sexual Misconduct, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking with friends—
speak out against non-consensual sex or violence and clear up misconceptions.