Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault Resources

Cal Martitime has many available resources if you have experienced a sexual assault or any other type of sexual abuse.  Whether the event(s) occurred before you were a student or since you have come to campus, on or off campus, we are here to help.  Please reach out to any of the following resources at any time:

* Campus Security Authorities (including, but not limited to, campus police, individuals with responsibility for campus security, and officials responsible for student activities such as student housing, student discipline, campus judicial proceedings, and most faculty and staff members who work directly with students) are required to report cases of sexual assault, domestic violence, and stalking to Cal Maritime Police Services or the Title IX Office, who may report these cases to the Vallejo Police Department .  Students are not required to speak with officers.

 

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I EXPERIENCE SEXUAL ASSAULT, AN EPISODE OF INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE, OR STALKING?

1. Get to a safe place.  This can include going to your dorm room/apartment, a friend’s house, your car, the police station, a hospital/medical clinic, etc. 
2. Consider talking to someone you trust. This can be a friend, roommate, resident assistant, instructor, counselor, or any of the resources listed here.
3. Consider getting medical attention (as applicable).  A medical provider can provide treatment for any physical injuries and can also provide emergency contraception and testing/treatment for STIs.  You can also consider requesting a SART exam.  These are forensic exams that are conducted by a trained medical professional for the purpose of providing medical care and collecting and preserving evidence of a sexual assault.  Even if you are unsure if you want to report the assault, getting a SART exam allows you to preserve evidence until you make this decision.  Due to the nature of evidence collection in these situations, exams must be performed within 3 days of the assault.  If you are considering a SART exam, avoid changing clothes, showering, washing, brushing your teeth, urinating, etc., as these activities can destroy evidence.  SART exams are provided free of charge at area hospitals.
4. Remember that the assault, episode of interpersonal violence, or stalking was not your fault. It is common for people who experience these types of trauma to wonder what they could have done to prevent it, especially as this may give them the illusion of having some kind of control over it; however, it is important to keep in mind that the perpetrator is the one who choose to act in a violent way, and thus is the only one responsible for their actions.
5. Remember that your reactions to the trauma are understandable based on your individual experiences. Speaking with a professional who is trained in the treatment of trauma can help to provide additional perspectives on why you are having specific reactions, especially if those reactions are confusing or upsetting.
6. Take time to take care of yourself. It can be tempting to try to push the trauma out of your mind and pretend that it didn’t happen.  While it can be helpful to find ways of distracting yourself in the short term, it can become problematic if trying to avoid thinking about the trauma becomes your main coping mechanism.  Engage in activities that you enjoy or that make you feel better, even if for brief amounts of time.  This can include engaging in an enjoyable activity, getting coffee with a friend, etc.
7. Consider reaching out for professional psychological assistance.  Even when a survivor has friends and family who are supportive, talking with a professional who is trained in the treatment of trauma can help to facilitate healing.

 

HOW CAN I HELP PREVENT SEXUAL ASSAULT?

Contrary to what many people believe, sexual assault is not about sex.  It is about one person wanting to have power and control over another and can happen to anyone. 

Below are some tips that everyone can use:

1. Learn the facts about sexual violence. Know that sexual violence does not only include rape, but also unwanted touching/grabbing/kissing, verbal harassment (e.g., “cat-calls”), photographing sex acts without the person’s permission (or sharing the photos without permission), etc.
2. Do or say something. Speaking up shows that you think the issue of sexual violence is an important one to address, and that you are a safe person for survivors to talk to.  Doing nothing or remaining silent when sexual assault is discussed causes perpetrators to assume that you are complicit in their behavior, and survivors to assume that you either don’t believe them or think what happened to them “isn’t really a big deal.” 
3. Challenge sexist language. Because language shapes perception and perception shapes how we act, changing language is a powerful tool to help change a culture that supports or is complicit with sexual violence.
4. Challenge traditional gender norms. In a traditional binary gender system, men often feel pressured to fit into a narrow box of what it means to “be a man” (e.g., don’t cry, don’t show weakness, don’t ever ask for help, etc.) while women are often pressured to not speak up too much or advocate for themselves.  These narrow definitions of gender harm everyone by restricting all people from fully experiencing their emotions, interests and behaviors in a manner that is healthy for them. 
5. Support gender and sexuality equality. While sexual violence can impact anyone, it overwhelmingly affects women and people in the LGBTQ+ community.  Supporting gender and sexuality equality also means that you object to violence targeted toward members of these groups.
6. Support survivors. See “What should I do if someone I know experiences a trauma?” for additional information on how to do this.
7. Hold perpetrators of sexual assault accountable. Most perpetrators deny that they did anything wrong and rely on a “system of silence” that discourages and intimidates survivors from reporting and getting support.  While perpetrators may claim that they are being falsely accused, research indicates this is actually relatively rare.  It is much more common for survivors not to report.
8. If you have ever participated in sexual violence, get help. There are programs that are specifically designed to assist people who have perpetrated violence to change their behaviors.  See the following for more information: 

        Men Stopping Violence

        STOP IT NOW FAQs

       ATSA

 

Community Sexual Assault Resources

SafeQuest Solano CALL 24/7 866-487-7233 Crisis Line

In case of EMERGENCY, please immediately call 911.  If you believe you have been a victim of domestic violence or sexual assault, please call the 24 hour hotline at 1-866-4-UR-SAFE.

National Sexual Assault Hotline
Crisis Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
www.rainn.org 

The Hotline provides live, secure, anonymous crisis support for victims of sexual assault, their friends, and families. They will help to connect you to your local rape crisis center, which provides free individual and group support sessions and other services. You can always reach your local rape crisis center directly by calling the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1.800.656.HOPE. 

Solano & Napa SANE/SART
Phone: 707-255-NEWS (6397) Domestic Violence and Sexual Abuse hotline 

Solano & Napa SANE/SART is a team of professionals and nurses trained to work with sexual assault victims.  They provide crisis support to victims during their foresenic medical exams at local hospitals throughout Soalno and Napa county.

 

California Coalition Aganist Sexual Assault
Phone: 916-446-2520
www.calcasa.org 

The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault provides leadership, vision and resources to rape crisis centers, individuals and other entities committed to ending sexual violence. CALCASA is the only statewide organization in California whose sole purpose is to promote public policy, advocacy, training and technical assistance on the issue of sexual assault.