Talk to someone you trust.
As soon as you are in a safe place, tell someone you can trust about the incident.
It's natural to feel overwhelmed, shocked, and vulnerable right now, but it's important
to seek help from a faculty and/or staff member, a friend, resident assistant or Residence
Life Coordinator, or counselor—someone who can provide emotional support and objectively
help you make a plan. If you are a campus resident and don’t feel comfortable in your
living space, you may request relocation to a crisis room. Residential Life staff
will assist you in relocating.
Make "you" your first priority.
It's never too late to seek medical care or emotional support following an assault,
but we strongly recommend that you do so immediately (within 120 hours). A medical
professional will examine you, provide appropriate medical treatment and, if applicable,
talk with you about the prevention of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy.
There are also licensed mental health professionals available who can help you deal
with the psychological impact of what happened and help you begin to process, grieve,
and heal.
Preservation of evidence: If you have experienced sexual assault or violence, you may want to remove all evidence
of the attack. However, you should not change your clothing, bathe/shower, use a douche,
use the bathroom, brush your teeth, drink liquids, wash your hands or face, or even
comb your hair after an attack. Doing any of these things could destroy evidence that
is needed to help with your case, should you pursue criminal charges against your
attacker. If you change your clothes, evidence is best preserved in a paper (not plastic)
bag. Preservation of evidence does not mean that you have to pursue criminal charges,
but it keeps that option open for you.
You have options on and off campus.
Reporting sexual misconduct/violence to law enforcement and/or the university is a
personal choice that only you can make. We strongly encourage you to report an incident
of sexual misconduct, since this is the only way LSU and/or law enforcement can take
action. Reporting the incident and having a medical examination performed immediately—within
72 hours (in sexual assault cases)—is critical in preserving evidence and allowing
law enforcement or the university to respond effectively; however, you can report
an incident at any time.
Protect yourself.
A restraining order is a court order that prohibits someone from abusing, threatening,
harassing, or stalking you. Where you must file your request depends on the serving
jurisdiction and relationship (e.g., Baton Rouge City Court vs. 19th JDC Family Court).
A judge can grant a temporary order for your protection while you are waiting for
your scheduled hearing. For more information, call the East Baton Rouge Clerk of Court's
Office at 225-389-4705.
