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If you are in immediate danger, please call 911. If you need immediate help or support after a sexual assault please call Campus Security at x5555 and ask for Elizabeth Nelson, The Coordinator for Student Development – Violence Prevention. She will return your call immediately for information of assistance.
What is sexual assault?
Sexual assault can be any form of forced sexual contact. Force can be physical or emotional (threat, intimidation, pressure, coercion). Sexual Assault is intentional and is committed either by
• physical force, violence, threat, or intimidation;
• ignoring the objections of another person;
• causing another's intoxication or impairment through the use of drugs or alcohol; or
• taking advantage of another person's incapacitation, state of intimidation, helplessness, or other inability to consent.
What is relationship violence?
Relationship violence, also known as "dating violence" "domestic violence" or "intimate partner violence," is a chronic pattern of one partner in an intimate relationship using abuse to gain power and control over the other person. Relationships violence can include:
• physical violence
• sexual violence
• psychological violence
• emotional violence
• economic abuse.
What is sexual misconduct?
Sexual misconduct is sexual contact without intent to harm but also without the presence of effective consent. Sexual Misconduct occurs when
• the act is committed without intent to harm another
• the perpetrator fails to ask for or correctly asses whether effective consent has been given
• unreasonably believes unreasonably that effective consent was given without having met his/her responsibility to gain effective consent.
What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment includes threatening, inappropriate, unrelenting or abusive sexually explicit language or behaviors towards. Sexual harassment can include saying or doing things:
• directly to someone
• during a phone conversation
• during an online conversation
• in print or on clothing
• and can be directed towards individuals or groups
What is sexual exploitation?
Sexual exploitation occurs when a person or group of people takes advantage of another person by doing something sexual in a non-consensual, abusive or unjust manner. Sexual exploitation can happen in committed relationships, between friends and between strangers. Sexual exploitation includes a broad range of behaviors including:
• Non-consensual video or audio taping of a sexual activity
• Non-consensual photography of a sexual nature
• Allowing other individuals to observe an act of sex without the knowledge or consent of the other partner
• Voyeurism
• Knowingly transmitting a STI or HIV to another person
• Prostituting another person (personally gaining money, privilege or power from the sexual activities of another)
What is stalking?
Stalking is conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear. Stalking is serious, often violent, and can escalate over time. Stalking behaviors include:
• Someone repeatedly calling, including hang ups
• Following someone
• Send unwanted gifts, letters, card or emails
• Damage to a residence, car or other property
• Monitoring phone calls or computer use
• Threatening to hurt someone, tor heir family, friends or pets
Who is mostly likely to be a victim of sexual violence?
Statistically most victims are females who are victimized by males. However, ANYONE can become a victim/survivor of sexual assault regardless of gender, race, age, ability or economic status. Survivors of assault and/or abuse were victims of the perpetrator’s desire for power and control. Sexual violence is most often committed by someone the victim knows. Victims NEVER bring assault or abusive behaviors on themselves because of their clothing, previous sexual history, participation in social activities, alcohol or substance use or other behavior.
Who perpetrates sexual violence?
ANYONE who uses sex or sexual situations to assert power or control over another person is a perpetrator. Someone can perpetrate sexual violence regardless of gender, race, age, ability or economic status. Anyone who strips someone of power or control using sex acts or sexual situations that include coercion, verbal threats, intimidation, physical threats, humiliation, providing alcohol or other drugs, or force is committing sexual violence.
Students who believe they have been the victims of harassment, violence or stalking have the right to report the incident to Elizabeth Nelson (Coordinator for Student Development-Violence Prevention), Counseling Services, the Office of Student Conduct, Campus Safety & Police, and/or the Elon Police Department . Students may also wish to call CrossRoads Sexual Assault Response and Resource Center to speak with a trained volunteer.
For more information about what to do after a sexual assault or other violence occurs, including campus resources and reporting options, click here