Student Handbook
Definition
Sexual assault is defined as
sexual contact without consent and includes intentional touching,
either of the victim or when the victim is forced to touch,
directly or through clothing, another person's genitals, breasts,
thighs, or buttocks; rape (sexual intercourse without consent
whether by an acquaintance or a stranger); attempted rape; sodomy
(oral sex or anal intercourse) without consent; or sexual
penetration with an object without consent. To constitute
lack of consent; acts must be committed by force, intimidation, or
through use of the victim's mental incapacity or physical
helplessness. Intoxication may indicate an inability to give
consent.
Verbal misconduct, without
accompanying physical contact as described above, is not defined as
sexual assault. Verbal misconduct may constitute sexual
harassment, which is also prohibited under University regulations
and is specifically addressed elsewhere in the handbook.
Acquaintance
Rape
Occurs when a person known to
the victim forces him/her into having sex. 85% of all sexual
assault is committed by an acquaintance. An "acquaintance"
can be a boyfriend/girlfriend, fiancée, classmate,
co-worker, neighbor, family member, or other known
person.
Date
Rape
The act of forcing sex on a
date. We have brochures available on this topic.
Sexual
Abuse
Any kind of unwanted sexual
advance or contact. Can include unwanted sexual comments to
kissing to intercourse.
Sexual
Harassment
Sexual harassment is unwanted
sexual or gender based behavior that occurs when one person has
formal or informal power over the other.
Three elements to Sexual
Harassment:
- The behavior is unwanted or
unwelcome.
- The behavior is sexual or
related to the gender of the person.
- The behavior occurs in the
context of a relationship where one person has more formal power
than the other (such as a supervisor over an employee or faculty
member over a student) or more informal power (such as a peer over
another).
Roofies
Rohypnol and other drugs abused
by "spiking" drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) with them in
order to commit sexual assault. Use and possession of "date
rape drugs" is illegal. Manufacturers of these drugs are
making them more easily detectable by sight and taste.
Dating
Violence
One partner abusing another
while in a dating relationship. Abuse can include words or
actions and the intent to control or hurt another person.
Although it happens mainly to women, men sometimes experience
violence in a relationship.
