Sexual assault victims find resources on campus

By Emily Liebert

Victims in need of crisis counseling or long-term professional guidance may find help at the Department of Mental Hygiene, where counselors are available to help sexual assault victims at all stages of recovery. "People use us immediately when sexual assault happens, and we're also available for people to come at various points in the process," Dr. Lorraine Siggins, chief psychiatrist, said. Mental hygiene is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and staff members are on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Those who prefer to discuss their experiences with fellow students can turn to Consent, a confidential on-campus hotline run by professionally trained students that specializes in sexual assault and rape counseling. According to Coordinator Naomi Walcott, SY '99, Consent is a "non-judgmental, non-political organization. We're there to provide resources for the community to people who need it." Because of the need to maintain confidentiality, Walcott was unable to reveal how many Yale students take advantage of Consent's services and what portion of them decide to press charges.

Students who want to discuss sexual assault with others in similar situations may soon be able to turn to the Women's Center for help. According to Political Coordinator Tassi McKay, TD '00, the Women's Center is currently in the process of organizing a support group for survivors of sexual assault. "We are envisioning a more informal, more welcoming format where students feel comfortable just showing up. Right now there is no such group. Not every survivor would want to get over to DUH to find a therapist and meet each week," McKay explained.

Victims can also find help at the Sexual Assault Crisis Service (SACS), which is located within walking distance of Yale. Staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week by four permanent members and an intern, SACS provides counseling both in person and over the phone. In addition, SACS holds support groups and educates the community about sexual assault and related issues.

Individuals seeking psychological as well as legal guidance can turn to the Yale College Grievance Board for Student Complaints of Sexual Harassment. The Grievance Board, which has been in existence since 1978, is comprised of seven people--two faculty members, two administrators, two undergraduate students, and one person with counseling experience.

While the Yale Executive Committee only hears formal complaints about violations of undergraduate regulations, students can contact the Grievance Board and receive advice before deciding whether to proceed informally or formally. Those who decide to proceed informally can receive mediation services from the board, and also have the option of being referred to outside counselors.

The board additionally provides guidance to victims who decide to press formal charges, but few decide to take this route. According to physics Professor Peter Parker, convener of the Grievance Board, in his 10 years as a member of the board he can remember only four or five victims who decided to press charges.

Since most sexual assault cases go unreported, the extent of the problem is difficult to determine. Nationwide college surveys, however, indicate that approximately 25 percent of college women and one out of six college men have been sexually assaulted or were sexually abused as children.

With such widespread sexual assault on college campuses, counselors believe that increasing awareness of the available resources is essential for victims to recover. "There needs to be as much outreach as possible," Walcott said. "Everyone on campus needs to know that these resources are available and people are there to talk if you need them."

She stressed the importance of providing a variety of outlets to address the needs of sexual assualt victims because "not all survivors of sexual assault deal with it in the same way."

According to Siggins, it is not clear whether having these types of counseling options readily available makes victims feel more comfortable about pressing charges, but she noted that these resources do provide a valuable outlet for students who are unsure how to deal with sexual assault. "The wide range of services means that students can work with people in deciding what's right for them and what direction they want to take."

Back to News...