Students who are sexually assaulted have several places to turn for help. Representatives of these different organizations came together last night to share the role they play when sexual assault victims come forward.

Patty Johnstone, a sexual assault specialist and crisis coordinator at the Center for Counseling and Psychological Services, said CAPS offers individual as well as group counseling.

"For us, the basic well-being of the person is one of the key issues," Johnstone said.

Maureen Jones spoke on behalf of the Center for Women Students and the Women's Health Department of University Health Services. She said the department is a place where a victim can get antibiotics as well as emergency contraception, something that was not always so easy to obtain.

Undergraduate Student Government Women's Affairs Director Laurie Rosenberger coordinated the forum as part of Unity Week. She said she had hoped for a larger crowd than the approximately 15 people who had shown up, but thought there was a lot of good information presented.

"I think the people who were here got a lot out of it," Rosenberger said.

Liz Wantusiak from the Centre County Women's Resource Center, 140 W. Nittany Ave., said the center offers a free and confidential 24-hour hotline, as well as short-term counseling.

"We tell them what their options are," Wantusiak said. "We support them in whatever decision they make."

She said the center offers to accompany the victim to the hospital and through the court process, and lets the victim know what to expect during those situations.

For Penn State students worried about medical care after an assault, Jones said that the university, not the student's insurance company, is billed directly for it.

"As far as resources on campus, we have a lot of them," Jones said.

Bill Huston, associate director of judicial affairs, said students can bring charges through the Office of Judicial Affairs for violating university rules.

"Any sexual activity requires expressed consent," Huston said of university policy.

The speakers also discussed the role drugs and alcohol play in sexual assaults.

While students may be worried about coming forward about a sexual assault that occurred while they were drinking, Huston said Judicial Affairs takes all the factors into account.

"We certainly don't think it is a just punishment that an underage drinker gets sexually assaulted," Huston said.

Jones said the Sexual Assault Response Team, created last month to serve Centre County, has seen ten cases, and three have involved drugs. The team comprises a police officer, a sexual assault counselor or advocate and a nurse trained to care for victims of sexual assault.

"I have to say it's a significant issue this year — drug-related assaults," Johnstone said.

Huston said the first contact his office has with victims is to tell them what their options are. A student can choose to press charges through Judicial Affairs, through Penn State police, or not pursue the case at all. He said the accused has a right to read the complaint, and can choose to accept it or challenge it.