Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

One of the nation's top undergraduate
engineering, science, and mathematics colleges

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology has a clear institutional policy against rape and other forms of sexual assault. It is important for all campus citizens to understand that these crimes will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Sexual violence on campus is repugnant, it's an extreme violation of individual rights, and it's contrary to the mission of this college.

Therefore, it is extremely important that all students, faculty, and staff understand the policy in detail. Compliance with this policy is a condition of enrollment or employment at Rose-Hulman.

DEFINITIONS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

In a recent survey of over 6,000 students from 32 colleges across the country, one out of every six female students reported being a victim of rape or attempted rape during the preceding year. One of every 15 male students in the survey reported committing rape or attempting to commit rape during the same period.

DEFINITION OF RAPE

While there are many forms of sexual assault, rape is by far the most prevalent. Rape is generally defined as forced sexual intercourse that is perpetrated against the will of the victim. The type of force may involve physical violence, coercion, or threat of harm to the victim. It is an extremely violent crime.

ACQUAINTANCE RAPE

On college campuses the most prevalent form of rape is acquaintance rape. The acquaintance may be a date or friend of the victim, or someone the victim knows casually, from a residence hall, from a class, or through mutual friends.

Regardless of the relationship between parties, if one person uses force to coerce another to submit to sexual intercourse, the act is defined as rape. The same criminal laws and penalties apply in cases of acquaintance rape as in cases of stranger rape.

OTHER CRIMINAL SEXUAL ASSAULTS

Besides rape, there are other types of felonious sexual crimes that involve forced penetration of the victim including sodomy, oral copulation, and rape by foreign object.

"Sexual battery", as defined in courts of law, is generally the unwanted touching of an intimate part of the victim's body, such as sexual organ, buttocks, or breast, for the purpose of sexual arousal.

While sexual harassment is yet another form of sexual assault, the sexual harassment policy of the college is detailed in a separate policy statement.

DISCIPLINARY HEARINGS. CRIMINAL PROCESS. AND DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS

Where there is probable cause to believe that policies prohibiting sexual assault have been violated, Rose-Hulman will pursue strong disciplinary action through its own channels. This discipline includes the possibility of suspension or termination of employment.

It is important for all constituents to understand that they can be both prosecuted under the State of Indiana criminal statutes and disciplined by Rose-Hulman. It should also be understood that Rose-Hulman can pursue disciplinary action even if the criminal justice authorities do not prosecute.

The procedures for disciplinary hearings in student sexual assault cases will be as described under "Institute Policies, Rules, and Regulations", Non-Academic Misconduct in the Student Handbook. The Institute Rules and Discipline Committee, consisting of faculty, staff and student members, will be the hearing body in such cases.

If found guilty by the hearing body, other possible penalties include suspension for a specified time, exclusion from certain areas of the campus, and/or mandatory counseling. Various sanctions can also be invoked against entire organizations whose members may be found guilty of sexual assault, including disbanding the organization, restricting female guests, or requesting action by the national office if it is an affiliated organization.

THE TRAUMA OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

Those victimized by sexual assault generally experience profound emotional trauma which severely impacts their daily functioning. Some common responses include feelings of shock and disbelief, intense fears about personal safety, preoccupation with recurrent and intensive thoughts about the assault, sleep disturbances, anxiety, impaired concentration, mood swings, depression, feelings of anger, shame, and self-blame. These reactions are called "post- traumatic stress disorder" or "rape trauma syndrome".

RIGHTS OF VICTIMS

Rose-Hulman will do everything it can to assist the victim with appropriate counseling and support. Victims of sexual assault shall be afforded the opportunity to be present at hearings and to have counsel present. That person can be a member of the faculty or counseling staff of Rose-Hulman, a friend, or anyone else at the college that the victim feels can provide either valuable insight or reassurance throughout the hearing process. The willingness of the victim to "confront" the assailant(s) is important to the community as well as the victims psychological well-being.

REPORTING PROCEDURES

Unfortunately, many sexual assault victims never report their assault, for a variety of reasons. Many experience such intense feelings of shame and self-blame that they are reluctant to report the assault or to seek assistance. Some are afraid that their assailant may retaliate against them if they report the crime. Others may believe that family and friends will criticize or perhaps even blame them. Some may feel that the "system" will, in effect, put them on trial. Whatever the reason, not reporting may encourage assailants to attack others.

Victims of sexual assault are strongly urged to report the assault immediately to residence hall staff, to professional staff in Student Affairs, to the Security Office, or to any faculty or administrative staff member in whom they have confidence. Reports will be given the highest degree of confidentiality until such time that a hearing should take place or that criminal action is sought through the Prosecutors Office.

SOME FACTS ABOUT RAPISTS

Most rapists are young. They are not "dirty old men." The majority of convicted rapists are between the ages of 15 and 24.
Most rapists know their victims. Four out of five teenage victims know their attacker.
Rapists are not "crazy". It is certainly not "normal" behavior. Anyone who commits such an act obviously has serious problems but the problems are not such that the person isn't responsible for his actions.
Rapists do not rape for sexual gratification. Research indicates that rapists use sex as a weapon to abuse and humiliate their victims.
Some rapists commit the crime to express anger and/or aggression.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

(Recommended by the Rape Treatment Center, Santa Monica, CA)

Go to a safe place.

Call 911, or the police immediately. Or, Campus Security (8590), or Student Affairs (8230, 8257, 8210, 8275).

Call a friend or family member to be with you.

Preserve all physical evidence. Do not shower, bathe, or douche. Save all the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. Do not disturb anything in the area where the assault occurred.

Go to a hospital emergency room for medical care as soon as possible.

Seek professional counseling, information, and legal assistance from Vigo County Assistance Program (462-3319) or from the Council on Domestic Abuse (232-1736 or 238-9577)

This brochure is prepared and distributed by the Rose-Hulman Office of Student Affairs, located in the lower level of the Student Union Building. For further information, visit the office or call 812-877-8257