What is Sexual Assault?

Sexual assault is any sexual contact without consent, and includes intentional touching or being forced to touch another person. Categories of sexual assault include rape, incest, fondling, voyeurism (peeping toms) & indecent exposure.

To have consent, acts must not be committed through the use of force, intimidation, threats, or through the use of the victim’s mental incapacity or physical helplessness. If a person is intoxicated, they are unable to give consent.

To sum up:

A quick guide to remember is

  • No means No
  • Silence means No
  • Maybe means No
  • Buzzed or Drunk means No

Consent is a sober yes to each escalating sexual act!

Some facts about sexual assault:

  • 25% of all college-aged women will be a victim of sexual assault before they graduate from college
  • 90% of sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance
  • 70% of sexual assaults occur during a date
  • 80%-90% of reported sexual assaults involved the offender and/or the victim using alcohol or drugs

The majority of sexual assaults are not committed by a scary stranger who jumps out of the bushes and violently attacks you in a dark alley.

The majority of sexual assaults are committed at a party or other social gathering, by someone that you know, after you or the offender have been drinking.

Contact Info

Heather Driver, M.A., LPC,
phone: 540-568-2831
email: driverhf@jmu.edu

Counseling Hours

8:00am-5:00pm Monday-Friday,
by appointment or crisis walk-in

Sexual Assault Services at a Glance

  • Individual Counseling
  • Group Counseling
  • Consultation and counseling for secondary survivors
  • Advocacy, Support, & Referrals
  • Resource Library
  • Prevention Presentation

Please use the left hand navigation for more information about Sexual Assault Services