Survivors take steps to deal with sexual assault

One thing Patty Johnstone has learned in her 10 years of working with sexual assault survivors is that rape does not just happen in one way. It does not just have one set of consequences for its victims.

"You can't make assumptions about the incidents themselves," said Johnstone, assistant director of the Center for Women Students. "Each sexual assault really is different, and I think we have a tendency to lump things together."

The other thing she has learned is that despite efforts in recent years to educate people about the subject, many misconceptions remain rooted in some people's minds.

Perhaps the biggest myth is that rape is a sexually motivated crime and men who rape are seeking sexual gratification. In reality, rape is about power, control and violence.

"There are generally elements of this in every assault," Johnstone said. "It's not just a sexual encounter gone wrong."

Another problem is that many people do not know what legally constitutes rape or sexual assault. Legally, rape is defined as "forcible compulsion," according to Pennsylvania law.

Police can charge a person with rape, a first-degree felony, if he or she has sex with a person who is unconscious or unaware that sexual intercourse is occurring, or if he or she gets the victim drunk or high with the intent of lowering the victim's resistance.

Police can charge someone with sexual assault, a second-degree felony, if nonconsensual intercourse occurs -- no matter how slight the penetration of the mouth, anus or vagina.

Another problem is that many people do not realize how traumatic sexual assault is for the victims.

People who work at the Centre County Women's Resource Center, 140 W. Nittany Ave., have seen the trauma of sexual assault firsthand.

"A rape or a sexual assault is seen as a life-threatening situation -- whether they fight back or just do nothing, they are doing what they need to survive," said Erin Pederson, community education coordinator.

Some important points to tell sexual assault victims include:

• "I'm glad that you are alive."
  

• "It's not your fault."
  

• "I'm sorry that it happened."
  

• "Have you received medical care?"
  

Victims will often blame themselves for drinking too much or dressing a certain way. Although women can do things to lessen their risk of being sexually assaulted, no woman is ever "asking for it."

Johnstone often uses the example of a man walking around late at night by himself wearing an expensive gold watch and getting mugged.

"We don't blame him for that, but we say that to women," she said. "Part of it is the confusion with the sexual nature of the crime."

Although much of the focus of sexual assault remains on the victims, it is important to keep in mind that the largest study on sexual assault found that one in 12 men admit to acts that meet the legal definitions of rape, but few of these men would call themselves rapists.

Reactions

Just as women are sexually assaulted in many ways, women react differently to being attacked.

One of the first reactions of the victim may be shock. The victim may be numb to everything. She may not cry or appear upset, but rather just want to go on with their life as normal.

Later, the victim may cry and be emotionally upset. Men who have been attacked experience similar symptoms.

Other changes may be physical, Johnstone said. Women may cut their hair, stop wearing makeup, wear baggy clothing or gain weight.

"They're trying to hide and don't want to be looked at," she explained.

Another common reaction is post-traumatic stress disorder. The disorder is also experienced by soldiers and people who may have lived through a natural disaster, such as a flood or hurricane.

Symptoms can include:

• Reliving the trauma either through flashbacks, dreams or hallucinations.
  

• Avoidance of anything associated with the trauma or avoidance of certain activities or not being able to remember the trauma.
  

• Possible trouble falling asleep, outbursts of anger, difficulty concentrating, mood swings and startling easily.
  

Resources

Fortunately, the University offers many resources for male and female victims.

After the victim has gotten to a safe place, he or she should either contact the police or seek medical attention. An exam can determine if the victim has been physically injured, pregnant or infected with a sexually transmitted disease. A victim can know within two weeks if they have an STD, but they should be tested for AIDS three months, six months and one year after the attack.

The University pays for initial exams at Centre Community Hospital and University Health Services for students who are sexual assault victims. The University offers free, confidential testing for HIV/AIDS for all students.

Although University Health Services is only open part-time, the Centre County Women's Resource Center has a 24-hour hot line and trained volunteers who can take victims to the hospital. Victims can also call Student Counselors at 863-2020 during most hours.

In the 1995-96 school year, the center helped 146 adult sexual assault victims and 19 children who were sexually assaulted. The center received about 132 calls per month about sexual assault.

The majority of victims do not contact the police, but a victim does have the option to press formal charges or report the incident. If both the attacker and victim are students, the Office of Judicial Affairs may be able to take action.

The University can also help victims get a "trauma drop" -- a procedure that retroactively drops courses for victims of violence.

"There are symptoms that people experience that make it difficult to be a student," Johnstone said.

The University also provides a free dusk-to-dawn Penn State Escort Service so students do not have to walk alone at night.

Prevention

Although the University and the Centre County Women's Resource Center offer many services for victims, their goal is to prevent men and women from being victimized in the first place.

It is important to realize that the average age of a female sexual assault victim is 18½ -- about the age of many freshmen in college.

"For women, it's clear why that would be. You're in a new social situation and you need to learn the ropes," she said. "It can also be their first unsupervised experience with alcohol. You know you don't have parents to go home to."

Although statistically freshmen may be the most vulnerable, there are things men and women can do to decrease the chances they will be a victim. People should know their sexual limits and be prepared to communicate them directly. They should also make sure their words and body language convey the same message.

People can also take self-defense classes offered by the University throughout the year, Johnstone said.

"I really believe that by learning some very simple techniques and developing the confidence to use them, you can help prevent becoming a victim," she said.