The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) seeks to provide a safe environment for all of its students, faculty, and staff. Sexual misconduct of any form is a violation of an individual's rights, is emotionally and physically traumatic and is a violation of the University's Non-Academic Student Code of Conduct.
It is our goal to ensure that cases of sexual assault are dealt with appropriately and that all victims receive support and care. Sexual assault affects everyone, so place this guide where it can be referenced when needed. All members of the UAB community are encouraged to report any incident of sexual assault, sexual misconduct, or sexual harassment (see the Equal Opportunity and Discriminatory Harassment Policy or the Non-Academic Student Conduct Code for more information).
This guide offers suggestions on what you can do, where you can go, who can help, and how you can take care of yourself after a sexual assault. As you begin the healing process, there are two points to remember - you do have choices, and there are caring people who can help you.
WHAT IS SEXUAL ASSAULT?
There are many legal definitions that vary from state to state. However, if anyone has committed a sexual act against you without your consent, you have been assaulted. (A person must be 16 years old or older to give legal consent.) The offense does not have to be committed by a stranger for it to be sexual assault or rape. Over 75% of rapes are committed by people who are known to the victim.
If you are Sexually Assaulted
- Go to a safe place
- Try to preserve all physical evidence. Preserving evidence is critical for criminal prosecution. Do not bathe, douche, use the toilet, or change clothing.
- Contact the police. On- or off-campus, call 911
- If oral contact took place, do not eat, drink liquids, smoke, or brush your teeth.
- Seek prompt medical attention. A medical exam will provide necessary medical treatment and collect important evidence which could aid in criminal prosecution. A medical exam also helps to determine the risk of sexually transmitted diseases, or pregnancy.
- Contact a friend, family member, or other support person to be with you.
In order to leave options open for criminal prosecution, it is recommended that you seek medical treatment and report the incident to the police. The important thing to note is that YOU HAVE THE CHOICE to pursue one or both of these options. The following information is outlined to help guide you through these procedures in case you make the decision to get medical treatment or report the incident to the police.
MEDICAL TREATMENT
It is important to seek immediate and follow-up medical attention for sexual assault to determine the presence of physical injury, sexually transmitted diseases, or pregnancy, and to obtain evidence to assist in criminal prosecution if you choose. Physical evidence should be collected immediately, ideally within the first 24 hours. However, it may be collected up to 72 hours after an assault.
Immediate Emergency Service
The specialized rape examination should be conducted within 72 hours of the assault. There are two service options for this exam, an emergency room or the S.A.N.E. (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) program nurse.
If you choose an emergency room:
The Emergency Room (ER) is an ideal choice if you are not medically stable, which includes being pregnant. If you are medically stable, the ER staff will send you to the SANE facility. In the ER, a nurse will conduct the majority of the exam, with a doctor conducting the pelvic exam. A SANE-trained nurse from the Crisis Center may be called to conduct the exam along with a Rape Response Advocate to provide emotional support for you. Hospital personnel will call Rape Reponse (323-7273) for you at your request.
If you go to the ER, you will get a bill for the services provided. Alabama Crime Victims Compensation Commission (ACVCC) is a program designed to help cover expenses incurred by those who have been sexually assaulted (and other violent crimes). You may fill out the appropriate ACVCC forms to be reimbursed for this cost.
If you choose to contact the SANE program:
The SANE Clinic is an immediate, confidential, no-cost service in the Birmingham area. To get service from the SANE program, all you need to do is call Rape Response at 323-7273 to inform them that you need to come to the facility and they will give you the directions to the clinic. They are available 24 hours a day/7 days a week. There will be no waiting in a public hospital waiting room and the services are provided by a trained registered nurse who has had specialized training in the care and treatment of sexual assault survivors. The forensic exam conducted at the SANE facility is paid by ACVCC. A police report is no longer required for this exam to be conducted.
The process may seem awkward and uncomfortable because the doctor/nurse will be collecting evidence that may be used in a criminal prosecution if you choose to report. If you choose not to report, the evidence can be held for a minimum of 30 days to give you time to evaluate what you would like to do. After having gone through such a traumatic experience, the exam can feel invasive. This exam is recommended to evaluate your physical condition as well as maintain all legal options.
Transportation
The University Police are available to transport sexual assault victims to the hospital or the SANE program location if a friend or relative is not available. To arrange transportation, call the University Police dispatcher and indicate your need for emergency assistance (934-3535). If the incident occurred off-campus, the local police department will provide transportation for you.
REPORTING THE INCIDENT
We encourage you to file a police report. Filing a report is different from pressing charges. A report puts the incident on record. There is no statute of limitation on the crime of rape. You may press charges at a later date if you so choose.
It helps if the UAB Police are notified immediately at 934-3535 or 911. If you wish to report at a later date, call 934-4434. If you have not contacted the police by the time you arrive at the hospital or the SANE clinic, you can ask hospital or clinic personnel to contact them for you.
Once an assault has been reported with the UAB Police, specific campus officials (Vice Provost for Student and Faculty Success, Assistant Vice President for Student Life, Coordinator of Non-academic Student Conduct, and a counselor) will be notified for your protection and to help you identify your needs as a UAB student. If you live in campus housing, the Director of Housing will also be notified. Once again, they are notified for protection and support reasons only.
REPORTING TO THE POLICE
- Protects you and others from future victimization.
- Assists in the investigation to apprehend the alleged assailant.
- Helps you maintain future options regarding criminal prosecution, university disciplinary action, and/or civil action against the perpetrator.
COUNSELING AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
A rape/sexual assault is a traumatic experience both physically and psychologically. It can be helpful in recovery to talk with someone about what you are experiencing. The following are support services available to you:
ON CAMPUS
- Counseling & Wellness Center
- 934-5816
- Women's Center
- 934-6946
- (Personal & Rape Counseling)
Office hours for both centers are Monday-Friday, 8:00 am until 5:00 pm.
OFF CAMPUS
- Rape Response (24 hours)
- 323-7273
- Crisis Center (24 hours)
- 323-7777
- Family Violence Center (24 hrs.)
- 322-4878
ACADEMIC CONCERNS
The University is also concerned about the impact that sexual assault can have on your educational progress. If you need assistance with any aspect of your studies, please contact the Assistant Vice President for Student Life at 934-4175.
If you want to report an incident:
Andy Marsch
Assistant Vice President for Student Life
Title IX Coordinator
934-4175
THE RIGHTS OF VICTIMS
- The right to be treated with dignity and compassion.
- The right to preservation of privacy, to the extent possible and allowed by law.
- The right to have a person of your choice, such as a counselor or victim's advocate, present throughout the judicial proceedings and/or non-academic student conduct proceedings for emotional support or in an advisory role.
- The right to know all options available and the steps involved in the judicial and/or the University's non-academic student conduct process.
- The right to know the results of the judicial proceedings.
- The right to be informed by university officials of options to notify proper law enforcement authorities, including on-campus and local police, and the option to be assisted by campus authorities in notifying such authorities, if you choose to do so. This also includes the right not to report, if this is your choice.
- The right to have complaints of sexual misconduct responded to quickly and with sensitivity by university law enforcement.
- The right to investigation and appropriate resolution of all credible complaints of sexual misconduct made in good faith to university administrators.
- The right to be informed of the outcome and sanction of any non-academic conduct hearing involving sexual assault.
- The right to appeal the finding and sanction of the non-academic conduct body.
- The right to be notified of available counseling, mental health or student services, both on campus and in the community.
- The right to be fully informed of university conduct rules and procedures.
- The right to notification of and options for, and available assistance in, changing academic and living situations, if so requested by you and if such changes are reasonably available (no formal complaint, or investigation, campus or criminal, need occur before these options are available).
Accommodations may include:
- Change of your on-campus housing to a different on-campus location
- Assistance from university support staff in completing the relocation
- Arranging to dissolve a housing contract and pro-rating a refund
- Exam (paper, assignment) rescheduling
- Taking an incomplete in a class
- Transferring class sections
- Temporary withdrawal
- Alternative course completion options
RESOURCES
Emergency: 911
Campus Police: 911 or 934-3535 (emergency dispatcher)
Birmingham Police: 911
Jefferson County: 325-1450
MEDICAL TREATMENT
Rape Response (24-hour hotline and SANE program): 323-7273
UAB Hospital ER: 934-5105
Cooper Green ER: 930-3265
COUNSELING AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
UAB Women's Center: 934-6946
UAB Counseling & Wellness Center: 934-5816
Rape Response (24 hours): 323-7273
Crisis Center (24 hours): 323-7777
Family Violence Center: (24 hours): 322-4878
STUDENT LIFE OFFICES
Asisstant Vice President for Student Life: 934-4175
Coordinator of Non-academic Student Conduct: 975-4412
LEGAL SERVICES
District Attorney (Criminal): 325-5252 or 325-5260
Legal Services (Civil): 325-3540
FINANCIAL COMPENSATION
Alabama Crime Victims Compensation: 334-290-4420
YOU HAVE...THE CHOICE