15
Sexual Assault/Misconduct
(continued)
All members of the Ashland Community are encouraged to take responsibility for preventing and addressing sexual
misconduct within our community. To help enhance your safety and the safety of your friends, commit to be an active
bystander by taking the following steps:
• Notice the situation…be aware of your surroundings
• Interpret it as a problem…do you recognize that someone needs help
• Feel responsible to act…see yourself as being part of the solution to help
• Know what to do…educate yourself on what to do
• Intervene safely…take action but keep yourself safe
You can also enhance your safety and the safety of others when you out with friends by:
• Having a plan…formulate a plan regarding personal safety with friends before you go out
• Go out together…go out as a group and don’t allow friends to become separated, especially if they are impaired
or unfamiliar with the parties involved
• Watch out for others…if you are walking at night with friends and notice a person walking by themselves in the
same direction, ask them to join you so they don’t have to walk alone
• Diffuse the situation…if you see a friend coming on too strong to someone who may be too impaired to give
proper consent; interrupt, distract, or redirect the situation. If you are too embarrassed or shy to speak out, get
someone to step in.
• Trust your instincts…if a situation doesn’t seem right to you, trust your instincts and remove yourself from the
situation, or assist a friend who may not recognize the situation
• Take care of each other
Alcohol can be a factor in that it can contribute to aggression by the perpetrator or diminished cognitive abilities on
your part. Date rape drugs can be placed in any drink, not just alcohol. Do not drink a beverage where you don't know the
source, who is serving you or are suspicious of the circumstances. If Ashland University is not made aware of an incident,
we can't take proper steps to help prevent a future incident. Reporting a crime or incident is a separate step from
prosecuting. Any person who believes they have been a victim of any sexual assault or misconduct or have information
regarding a sexual assault are encouraged to report the incident to University officials or law enforcement officials, or
both.
Intervention
Ashland University is committed to providing both a sensitive and effective response to an incident of this nature.
Any of the listed resources will help the victim seek any medical, civil and/or counseling services. Victims of a sexual
assault are strongly encouraged to seek immediate medical attention so that physical evidence can be preserved, should
the victim choose to prosecute. An assault can be reported without initiating an investigation or prosecuting the alleged
attacker. While it is the victims’ option to (or not to) seek assistance from law enforcement and campus authorities, the
University encourages persons who have been sexually assaulted to report the assault, seek assistance and pursue criminal
and on campus judicial action for not only their protection, but the entire campus community. Victims should report the
assault to the AU Safety Services Department.
The Safety Services department can provide transportation to the hospital and/or the local police department and
can assist the victim in notifying proper civil and AU administrative authorities, should the victim choose to do so. With
the exception of the AU Counseling Services office, health and pastoral counselors, all AU employees are required to
contact to Safety Services department. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible, however, cannot be
guaranteed. The AU Safety Services Department may notify the Ashland City Police of any reported sexual assault on
campus. If the victim chooses to remain anonymous, the AU Safety Services department will report the incident without
disclosing personal identifying information. Ashland University may impose an immediate no-contact restriction should
the victim choose to do so. Victims are also encouraged, but not required to; pursue a civil protection order issued by the
Ashland County Court. Ashland University will assist the victim in working with the civil authorities when requested.