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Student Wellness Center

Sexual Violence

Sexual violence is a broader term than sexual assault. The term encompasses sexual homicide, rape, incest, molestation, fondling, stalking, intimate partner violence, and verbal harassment of a sexual nature. Sexual violence includes creating an environment that feels unsafe based on sexual messages or images.

Sexual violence is a sexual act that is completed or attempted against a victim's will consent or when a victim is unable to consent due to age, illness, disability, or the influence of alcohol or other drugs. The act may involve actual or threatened physical force, use of weapons, coercion, intimidation or pressure.

You have the right to survive.

As a survivor or patient, you have several rights

  • The right to protection from intimidation and harm.
  • The right to be informed concerning the criminal justice process.
  • The right to reparations.
  • The right to preservation of property and employment.
  • The right to due process in criminal court proceedings.
  • The right to be treated with dignity and compassion.
  • The right to counsel.

As a victim of the crime of rape or forcible sodomy, you have certain rights. These rights are as follows

  1. The right to request that charges be pressed against your assailant;
  2. The right to request protection from any harm or threat of harm arising out of your cooperation with law enforcement and prosecution efforts as far as facilities are available and to be provided with information on the level of protection available;
  3. The right to be informed of financial assistance and other social services available to victims, including information on how to apply for the assistance and services;
  4. The right to a free forensic medical examination; and
  5. The right to be informed by the district attorney of other victim's rights available pursuant to Section 142A-2 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Who can help you?

As a victim of crime you have certain rights; a coordinator is available to assist you with those rights:

Comanche County District Attorney

Victim-Witness Coordinator

315 SW 5th Lawton, OK 73501 (580) 585-4425

24-Hour Safeline

1-800-522-SAFE (7233) Safeline provides assistance with safety planning, crisis intervention, emergency shelter and advocacy to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking. Safeline also provides support for the needs of those who are deaf, Deafblind, and hard of hearing. 

Domestic Violence Hot Line

(580) 357-2500

https://www.thehotline.org/

Vinelink

This service allows crime victims to obtain timely and reliable information about criminal cases and the custody status of offenders 24 hours a day.

https://vinelink.com/classic/#/home/site/37000

CU Resources

Student Wellness Center

North Shepler 101 (580) 581-6725

Campus Police

South Shepler 108 (581) 581-2911

Equal Opportunity Office

South Shepler 519 (580) 581-6712

Student Development Office

North Shepler 314 (580) 581-2209

Common Myths about Sexual Violence

MYTH: If a woman doesn't put up a fight, she wasn't actually raped.

FACT: In most cases, the victim is unable to fight back due to trauma, impairment, fear, or

other factors.

MYTH: Sexual assault and rape are usually "he said/she said" communication problems.

FACT: There are many ways to say "no," both verbally and nonverbally. Assailants chose to

continue despite receiving clear messages that the other person is uncomfortable. They

chose to try to "make them relax" rather than backing off. Many perpetrators will

testify that the sex was consensual, minimizing the extent to which the survivor was

pressures or coerced.

MYTH: Women can avoid being raped by dressing sensibly, not acting "sexy," not getting

drunk, and not going out alone at night.

FACT: There is no causal link between a woman's clothing and social behavior and crimes of

violence. Nothing a person does or wears causes a brutal crime like sexual assault.

MYTH: Assailants are usually strangers, crazed psychopaths or leering men on a dark street

corner.

FACT: Assailants can be charming, convincing, or even someone you know intimately, like a

boyfriend / girlfriend, coworker, a friend or a family member.

MYTH: A person who has really been assaulted will be hysterical.

FACT: Survivors exhibit a spectrum of emotional responses to assault: calm, hysteria, laughter,

anger, shock. Each survivor copes with the trauma of the assault in a different way.

MYTH: It is impossible to sexually assault a man.

FACT: Men fall victim for the same reasons as women: they are overwhelmed by threats or

acts of physical and emotional violence. It is common for both men and women to freeze

during a sexual assault, and in some cases drugs, alcohol or the presence of a weapon

or the threat of other force or injury can prevent someone from fighting their assailant.