Lewis University | Student Services | LU Cares - Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault

What is sexual assault?

Sexual assault is an involuntary sexual act in which a person is coerced or physically forced to engage against their will, or any non-consensual sexual touching of a person.

  • Non-consensual sexual intercourse: any sexual intercourse (vaginal, anal, oral), however slight, with any object, by a man or woman upon a man or woman, without effective consent and/by force

  • Non-consensual sexual contact: any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by a man or woman upon a man or woman, without effective consent and/by force.

  • Sexual Exploitation: occurs when a student takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for his/her own advantage or benefit, or to benefit or advantage anyone other than the one being exploited. Examples include, but are not limited to:
    • Invasion of sexual privacy
    • Prostituting another student
    • Non-consensual video or audio-taping of sexual activity going beyond the boundaries of consent (such as voyeurism or secretly watching others)
    • Knowingly transmitting an STI or HIV to another student
    • Exposing one’s genital in non-consensual circumstance or inducing another to expose their genitals
    • Sexually-based stalking and/or bullying

Sexual Assault and Drugs and/or Alcohol

If someone is mentally or physically incapacitated from either alcohol or drugs they cannot give consent to sexual activity. If this happens, the responsibility still lies with the respondent and not the complainant. The use of alcohol cannot be used to excuse the behavior.

It is important to note that alcohol is the most commonly used drug on college campuses when an assault has occurred. There are also drugs known as “date rape” drugs that may be used such as GHB (Liquid Ecstasy), Rohypnol (Ruffies), and Ketamine (Special K). At times it may be difficult to tell if one of the drugs was ingested. Below are some common signs:

  • Waking up with little to no memory of the night before
  • Feeling drunk when you haven’t drunk any alcohol or you feel the effects from drinking more than usual
  • You feel like you had sex but cannot remember

Getting Help

If you feel that you or someone you know has been sexually assaulted, Lewis University encourages you to seek help and report the incident.

Please visit our Reaching out for Help page for more information and the resources available to you.

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