Northern Arizona University

• Find a safe environment — anywhere away from the perpetrator. If you are at immediate risk, contact the police. You may chose to give the police as much or as little information as you wish. You can request that they contact a Victim/Witness advocate, who will help you understand the process and can provide support. Call NAU Police at 928-523-3611 or call the Flagstaff Police Department at 928-774-1414.
• Know that what happened was not your fault and that you should do what is best for you. Ask a trusted friend to stay with you for moral support.
• If there is serous physical injury, go immediately to a hospital emergency room to be examined. Flagstaff Medical Center is located at 1200 N. Beaver St. Call 928-779-3366. If the victim reports the sexual assault to Flagstaff Medical Center, the nurses and doctors there are REQUIRED to notify police and make an incident report, but the victim is NOT required to talk with the police unless they chose to. The victim will be treated for injuries and taken to NACASA if they wish to proceed with the report and there is no medical reason for them to remain at the hospital.
• If there is no serious physical injury, go to a medical center as soon as possible to be examined for sexually transmitted infections or possible pregnancy. Fronske Health Center is available for all NAU students. Call 928-523-2131. See link for clinic hours.
• Call Victim/Witness Services at 928-779-6163 if you would like advice and support and to clarify your options.
• If you live on campus and think that your living situation puts you at risk, contact your residence hall assistant or director through the front desk, or contact Residence Life. If you live off campus, contact Flagstaff or NAU Police Department
• Recognize that healing takes time. Give yourself the time you need. If you would like to seek assistance through counseling, contact the Counseling and Testing Center.
• Deciding whether or not to report the incident can be a stressful and confusing process. Understanding your options and the process is important. See page 2 for more information about reporting.

COMMON RESPONSES TO RECENT SEXUAL ASSAULT/ABUSE

Survivors differ in their responses to sexual assault and abuse. The long-term effects may be influenced by the severity of the assault, the survivor's existing coping skills, and the support the person has following the incident. Nevertheless, the following responses are commonly experienced by many survivors:

• A survivor's self-esteem often diminishes after an assault or abuse. Frequent feelings of shame, humiliation, guilt, anger, and powerlessness.
• A survivor's body image may be negatively affected. This change may lead to self-abuse (e.g., alcohol abuse, overeating, self-mutilation, etc.).
• A survivor may find it difficult to trust and to be intimate with others.
• A survivor may not want sexual intimacy for some time or may engage in risky sexual behaviors.
• A survivor may experience flashbacks of the incident.
• A survivor may experience fear of being alone and fear of a future attack.
• A survivor may experience nightmares or other sleep disturbances.
• A survivor may not be able to concentrate and focus. This can affect academic and/or job performance.

UNDERSTANDING YOUR OPTIONS

• It is the victim's choice whether or not to report a sexual assault and how to proceed in the process.
• There are a variety of ways in which a victim can report a sexual assault.
• At any time during the process, the victim has the right to speak up and can stop the process.
• A victim may chose how much or how little they wish to be involved in the process.
• Proceed to the next page for information about reporting sexual assault.

 

 

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