1. Go to a friend or family member - This is not a time when you want to be alone, a friend or family member can help you figure out what to do, give you emotional support and just in general be there for you. If you cannot go to a friend or family member at least call someone you can talk to.
2. Get medical attention - You will want to get medical attention as soon as you can. Do not shower or clean before getting medical attention no matter how much you may want to. Go to a hospital or doctor as soon as possible after the assault, they will check you for venereal diseases, any injuries you may have suffered during the attack (even if there are no apparent injuries, there may be internal injuries which are not obvious) and they can collect evidence which will be used should you decide to press charges.
3. Report the attack to the police or University authorities - Even if you do not want to press charges you should report the attack to authorities as soon as possible after the assault. Reporting the assault does not commit you to pressing charges, you are able to decide whether or not you want to do that at a later time.
4. Get help and support or counseling - There are numerous rape crisis hotlines that you can call if you have been raped which will help you through the situation. Many schools also have rape crisis lines which can be called on campus. You have suffered a great trauma and may need help dealing with the situation and your feelings. Victims who seek help after the assault often suffer from fewer lasting effects than those who seek no help.
5. Don't blame yourself - No matter what happened, the assault is not your fault. Remember that you are a victim of a serious crime, you may look back on things you might have done differently, but in the end the fact still remains that you were the victim. Your behavior did not cause what happened.

Page Last Modified: Thursday, February 20, 2003