Sexual Assault

Sexual assault is defined as penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim. This includes any gender of victim or perpetrator. The definition also includes instances in which the victim is incapable of giving consent because of temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity (including due to the influence of drugs or alcohol) or because of age. Physical resistance is not required on the part of the victim to demonstrate lack of consent, as defined by "Uniform Crime Reporting."

What to do

If you have been sexually assaulted: 

• Go to a safe place.
• Call a friend, a family member, or someone else you trust and ask her or him to stay with you.
• Preserve all physical evidence of the assault. Do not shower, bathe or douche. If possible do not urinate, eat, drink liquids, take any medications, smoke or brush your teeth if oral contact took place. Save all of the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault. Place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag. Do not use plastic bags. Do not clean any clothing garments. If the crime occurred in the victim's home, the victim should not clean or straighten until the police have had an opportunity to collect evidence.

• Seek medical care even if you think that you do not have any physical injuries, you should still have a medical examination and discuss with a health care provider the risk of exposure to sexually transmitted diseases and the possibility of pregnancy resulting from the sexual assault.
  • Our student campus resource lists provide local contact information for campus health care/student health and local health care centers.
  • Our employee campus resource lists provides local contact information for local health care centers.

• If you suspect that you may have been given a rape drug, ask the clinician where you receive medical care to take a urine sample. Rape drugs, such as Rohypnol and GSB, are more likely to be detected in the urine than in blood.
• Following an incident, victims are encouraged to make a report to campus or local police. If an individual needs assistance in notifying authorities, university officials will assist them in doing so. Filing a police report does not obligate prosecution, but does provide the opportunity for the collection of evidence, investigation into the allegations and makes legal action possible. The earlier an incident is reported the easier it is to collect valuable evidence. Further reporting the crime can help you regain a sense of personal power and control and can also help to ensure the safety of other potential victims.
• Victims have the option of keeping their report of sexual assault in complete confidence, protecting their right to anonymity, when making a report through the University Student Counseling or FEAP for employees and Health Care/Student Health. When reporting to anyone other than the University Student Counseling or FEAP for employees and Health Care/Student Health individuals are obligated to forward the information on to the university Title IX coordinator for investigation and to UNMC security/police for investigation/statistical collection.

• Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances of the assault, including a description of the assailant.

• Talk with a confidential advocate who is trained to assist sexual assault victims with the emotional and physical impacts of the assault. Advocates are available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Our student and employee resource lists provide local contact information for help centers, advocates and student/employee counselors.

• Students and employees who have been sexually assaulted or harassed or complainants have access to university assistance in changing academic, living, working and transportation situations after an alleged incident. If the request is made by the student, employee or complainant and if such changes are reasonably available, accommodations to minimize burden on the student or employee.

• University code of conduct action, Title IX action, employee disciplinary action, criminal prosecution and civil suits are all options available to victims of sexual assault. To begin the university conduct process, the campus authority or victim should contact:
  
  • Students should contact
    
    • Philip D. Covington, EdD
      Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success
      402-559-27920
      Student Life Center, Office# 2033
  • Faculty and staff should contact
    
    • Carmen Sirizzotti, MBA
      Title IX Coordinator 
      402-559-2710
      Administrative Building, Office# 2010
    • Linda M. Cunningham, MPA
      Associate Director, Employee Relations & Organizational Development
      402-559-7394
      Administrative Building, Office# 2001

Once the university has been notified the university is obligated to investigate the incident and complete the process.

• Additional resources about legal issues, health care or other concerns related to the assault can be found in our student campus resource lists and employee campus resource lists.