Student Health & Counseling Center
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This page is designed to increase awareness on WOU campus through enhancing student knowledge, support, and utilization of resources for victims and/or survivors.
WOU offers many resources for students that have experienced sexual assault or misconduct. The VP of Student Affairs website for sexual misconduct resources is a valuable tool with information on reporting, resources, and policies.
Student Health and Counseling Center offers confidential services for medical and counseling needs. SHCC counselors are available for same day crisis or for ongoing counseling related to sexual assault and sexual misconduct. Medical services include SAFE (sexual assault forensic examine) or appropriate referral, STI testing and treatment, pregnancy testing and education.
Abby’s House offers survivor support and have confidential advocates to assist students in their time of need.
Myth or Fact:
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| Most survivors are assaulted by strangers | FALSE. Most survivors know the person who victimized them. Studies show that more than 50 percent of rapes occur in the survivor’s home or living space; 33 percent of assaults happen in the daytime; 85 percent of rapes are committed by someone the survivor knows and, in some capacity, trusts. |
| The responsibility for preventing rape is on a potential survivor | FALSE. We often hear about all the ways people can protect themselves from being sexually assaulted, but the responsibility completely falls on the person who sexually assaults. A survivor should not be blamed for someone else’s criminal acts. |
| If a person had sex with me before, they can have sex with me again | FALSE. The WOU Student Conduct Code requires explicit consent for every act. Making out with someone does not mean you have permission to go further. In addition, having consensual sex previously does not mean you have permission forever. Consent can be given and taken away at any point. |
| Men cannot be harmed by sexual assault | FALSE. One in 33 men experience an attempted or completed rape within their life time. Conversely, the vast majority of sexual assault is committed by men—98 percent. Those men commit sexual assault against women, men, trans people, and those who do not conform to gender norms. |
| Survivors provoke rape when they dress provocatively, act sexy, or go to someone’s room, house, or party | FALSE. Neither provocative dress nor promiscuous behavior are invitations for unwanted sexual activity. Forcing someone or coercing someone to engage in non-consensual sexual activity is sexual assault, regardless of the way that person dresses or acts. |
| You can tell that a person had really been sexually assaulted because they will be highly emotional | FALSE. Some survivors might be really calm, while others might be confused or angry. There is no “right way” to react after being sexually assaulted. Assumptions about the way a survivor “should act” may be detrimental because every person reacts differently to trauma. |
| If a person was really sexually assaulted they would report to the police | FALSE. For every incident of sexual assault or abuse reported, at least 80 are not. Rape or sexual assault is the violent crime least often reported to law enforcement, as survivors may fear retaliation or that they won’t be believed. Survivors have a right to report, but they are not obligated to. |
| Many reports of sexual assault or abuse turn out to be false | FALSE. This is pervasive myth. The research has been replicated over and over again—showing that the false reporting rate for sexual assault is the same as any other felony crime, between two and 10 percent of all reports. |
