Following a sexual assault, options are available to students.

Tara Misra, the new relationship and sexual violence prevention coordinator, said she hopes to help educate students about sexual violence and assaults. She also plans to emphasize the ways in which relationships can be positive.

“We’re not trying to discourage people from being young and having experiences that are really essential to being in college,” Misra said. “But there certainly are ways to do it that are healthy.”

Addressing the role of alcohol is important in sexual assault and violence cases, especially for students who are away from home and may be experimenting for the first time, Misra said.

“It’s a game changer when it comes to human interaction,” Misra said. “It’s important to be cognisant of how much you’re drinking and to know that situations can get out of control very quickly.”

It is also important to note that acts of sexual violence are typically committed by an acquaintance. According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, two of every three reported assault cases were perpetrated by someone the victim knew.

Victims often avoid reporting people they know because they are afraid to complicate relationships within their community or group of friends. Following an incident of relationship or sexual violence, students have several options to choose from, Misra said.

Because every case is different, students can decide whether or not they want to press charges, file a police report or pursue disciplinary efforts within the equal opportunity office.

The Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention organization and Counseling and Psychiatric Services are both available to assist students in deciding how to handle the situation.

Sarah Chatfield, a mental health professional with University Counseling and Psychiatric Services, said one in four women will experience an assault in their lifetime.

“We’re both a resource and both a safe space on campus,” Chatfield said. “The idea also is: the more support, the better.”

While RSVP is responsible for outreach and education prevention, CAPS is available to students who feel they would benefit from long-term counseling and support.

Misra said she is currently looking for feedback from the community to provide the best service for students.

“If students have suggestions or concerns in terms of how they think this program should be run, I am completely open to feedback from everybody,” she said.

The RSVP plans to direct outreach on campus to men as well as women, because everyone can be affected by relationship violence and assaults, Misra said.

“Sometimes women perpetrate against each other and men perpetrate against each other,” she said. “It’s something that affects everybody. Men are also impacted when people that they care about are hurt.”

In upcoming months, Misra said she will continue the “Consent is Sexy” campaign and begin encouraging media literacy regarding sexual behavior.

“I think that what makes Georgia unique though is that there are a lot of systems in place for students to get this kind of support,” Misra said.

Where to get help:
Office of Violence Prevention<
(706) 542-7233

The Cottage
Hot line: (706) 353-1912
northgeorgiacottage.com

Counseling and Psychiatric Services
(706) 542-2273
Crisis: (706) 542-2200

Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network
rainn.org