Project SAFE

Important Note: Perpetrators may be able to monitor their victim’s computer and Internet activities (as well as other technologies such as cell phones). It may be safer to look for information on a computer belonging to a trusted friend, at a University Open Access Lab, at the Student Health Center, or other computer a perpetrator does not have access to. For more information click here (National Domestic Violence Hotline).

Resources for Victims and the Campus Community

Violence Against Women

Cal State L.A. recognizes that college students, especially women, are at high risk for becoming victims of sexual assault. Sexual assault is the second most common violent crime committed on college campuses. During any given academic year, almost 3% of college women will become a victim of attempted or completed rape. Nationally, the sexual victimization rate is 28 per 1,000 female students.[1] Up to 10% of collegiate acquaintance rape victims are male, and as with female victims, their rapes are typically committed by other males.[2]

For many sexual assault and rape victims, the assaults perpetrated against them do not occur in a vacuum. Assaults are often part of a pattern of other abusive and coercive behaviors, involving dating/domestic violence and stalking. On some campuses, as many as 35% of female students have been stalked. Nationally, the highest rates of domestic violence are experienced by women ages 16 – 24[3] and each year 835,000 men are raped or physically assaulted by a current or former intimate partner.[4]

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Project SAFE*

Project SAFE is Cal State L.A.’s campus-related violence against women prevention program.  Project SAFE is a collaborative effort among Cal State L.A.’s Student Health Center, University Police, Cross-Cultural Centers, Center for Student Development and Programs, Educational Participation in Communities, Alumni Association, Student Housing; and community partners including the East Los Angeles Women’s Center (ELAWC), Center for the Pacific Asian Family (CPAF), Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office, Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office, and LAC+USC Medical Center.

The goals of Project SAFE include:

• Establishing an advisory council comprising representatives from the University and community victim advocacy and law enforcement agencies to provide guidance in addressing violence against women on campus.

• Creating a comprehensive university sexual assault education and prevention program.

• Establishing on-campus victim support centers.

• Enhancing university policies, procedures, and perpetrator accountability mechanisms.

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What You Can Do to Help Stop Violence Against Women

• Recognize that no one deserves to be sexually assaulted, stalked, or victimized in any other way.

• Take responsibility for your actions.

• Never use force, coercion, threats, or alcohol and other drugs to engage in sexual activity. [xiii]

• Clearly communicate your feelings and desires to your partner. [xiv]

• Avoid alcohol and other drugs.

• Remember ‘no’ means NO! and ‘stop’ means STOP! Pay attention to nonverbal cues that indicate consent has not been given.

• Report incidents of violence to law enforcement and campus authorities.

• Discuss dating/domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking with friends - speak out against violence and clear up misconceptions.

• Don’t condone jokes about violence against women, speak up when you hear one, and say that it is offensive.

• Don’t mistake submission for consent. [xv]

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What You Can Do to Help Minimize the Risk of Becoming a Victim

• Be aware. Does your partner: threaten to hurt you or your children? Say it’s your fault if he or she hits you, 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?

• Be assertive. Speak up.

• Stay sober and watch out for dates and/or anyone who tries to get you drunk or high.

• Be aware of and avoid situations that may put you at risk for unwanted sex.

• Never leave a party with someone you don’t know well.

• Trust your feelings. If it feels wrong, it probably is.

• Talk with your friends and dates about sexual assault, stalking, and dating/domestic violence. Help them stay safe.

• Report incidents of violence to law enforcement and campus authorities. [xvi]

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Options for Victims

In general

• Go to a safe place as soon as possible.

• Report the crime to University Police or local law enforcement.

• Call a domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking hotline.

• Preserve evidence.

• Call a friend for help.

• Know that you are not at fault. You did not cause the abuse to occur, and you are not responsible for the violent behavior of someone else. [xvii]

Dating/domestic violence

• Let trusted friends and neighbors know of your situation and develop a plan and visual signal for when you need help.

• During an assault do what you can to stay away from the kitchen (the abuser can find weapons, like knives) and rooms where you may become trapped. Try to reach a room that has a phone.

• If violence is unavoidable, make yourself a small target; dive into a corner and curl up into a ball with your face protected and arms around each side of your head, fingers entwined.

• Teach your children how to get to safety and call 911.

• Practice how to get out safely. Practice with your children. [xviii]

Sexual assault

No one can tell you whether you should resist, fight back, or submit. Your best choice is what you believe will ensure your survival. Remain as calm as possible and keep assessing the situation as it happens. Possible strategies to use during an assault include:

• Negotiating or stalling for time.

• Distracting the assailant and escaping to a safe place.

• Screaming to attract attention.

• Physical resistance.

• Submitting – it’s important to know that submission is not consent. [xix]

Stalking

• Tell friends, family & coworkers about your situation. Let them know not to give anyone information about your schedule.

• Vary your daily schedule as much as you can and change your travel routes.

• Get rides to school or work with friends or family.

• Save all emails, correspondence, voice messages, and gifts for evidence.

• Change your email address, if necessary. Choose a gender-neutral name. Don’t fill out on-line profiles.

• Keep a log of all stalking incidents. [xx]

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Victims’ Rights

If you are a victim of a campus-related sexual assault by law you are entitled to:

• Assistance with notifying law enforcement

• The option to alter your academic and/or on-campus living situations (when available)

• Information regarding campus procedures for guaranteeing confidentiality

• Information regarding legal reporting requirements

• Information regarding your right to pursue criminal and civil prosecution, as well as campus disciplinary action

• Referrals for campus and community victim support services

• A copy of the campus sexual assault policy.

Victims of other campus-related crimes are also entitled to certain rights. For more information contact University Police at (323) 343-3700 (‘911’ for emergencies), the Student Health Center at (323) 343-3302, the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs at (323) 343-3100, the Office for Equity and Diversity at (323) 343-3040, or the Women’s Resource Center at (323) 343-3370.

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Helping A Friend

• Show you CARE.

• BELIEVE your friend.

• LISTEN without passing judgment.

• TALK to her/him about her/his options.

• HELP without taking control.

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On-Campus Victim Support Services

• Alteration of academic and housing situations (information and coordination): Office for Equity and Diversity - Administration 606, (323) 343-3040

• Confidential and anonymous counseling: Student Health Center - Information - (323) 343-3300, Appointments - (323) 343-3302, Project SAFE - (323) 343-3340

• Criminal reporting, transportation to emergency room & protective orders: University Police - Bldg. C, (323) 343-3700, ‘911’ for emergencies

• Filing of campus-related complaints and investigations: Judicial Affairs - Student Affairs 108 - (323) 343-3100; Office for Equity and Diversity - Administration 606, (323) 343-3040

• Information about dating/domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking prevention & victims’ rights, resources, and services: Office for Students with Disabilities - Student Affairs 115 - (323) 343-3140; Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs - Student Affairs 108 - (323) 343-3100; Student Health Center - Information - (323) 343-3300, appointments - (323) 343-3302, Project SAFE - (323) 343-3340; University Police - Bldg. C, (323) 343-3700, ‘911’ for emergencies; Women’s Resource Center - University-Student Union, KH D140, (323) 343-3370

• Medical Services (emergency contraception, HIV testing & STD testing/treatment, other): Student Health Center - Information - (323) 343-3300, Appointments - (323) 343-3302

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Treatment Centers and 24-Hour Hotlines

• Center for Pacific Asian Families: (800) 339-3940

• East Los Angeles Women’s Center: (800) 585-6231

• L.A. Rape and Battering Hotline - Peace Over Violence (formerly L.A. Commission on Assaults Against Women): (310) 392-8381, (626) 793-3385

• L.A. Stalking Hotline - Peace Over Violence/L.A. County District Attorney’s Office: (877) 633-0044 

• National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-SAFE (7233) or (800) 787-3224 (TTY) or www.ndvh.org/

• Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN): (800) 656-HOPE and www.rainn.org

• Rosa Parks Sexual Assault Crisis Center: (323) 751-9245

• Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center Rape Treatment Center: (310) 319-4000, extension ‘0’ and www.911rape.org

Services: 24-hour dating/domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking hotlines, accompaniment for hospital/law enforcement/court appearances, and short-term confidential counseling.  These agencies also provide 24-hour hotlines and other services for male victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking.  Call for more information.

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Resources for Victims and the Campus Community

1. Are You Being Stalked?

2. Cal State L.A. Policy on Sexual Assault

3. Resources for Victims

4. Sexual Assault & California Universities: Facts for Rape Treatment Centers (References)

5. Sexual Assault & the University Setting: A Reference for Faculty and Staff (References)

6. Surviving Sexual Assault and Rape: A Guide for Victims

7. Title IX Requires Colleges and Universities to Eliminate the Hostile Environment Caused by Campus Sexual Assault

8. Violence Against Women on Campus

9. What Do You Do if Someone You Love Hurts You?

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*Project SAFE was originally supported by Grant No. 2002-WA-BX-0012 awarded by the Office on Violence Against Women, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice.  Points of view in this document are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice.

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