In addition to criminal court proceedings, offenses committed by faculty and staff will be referred to the Office of Personnel and may result in termination of employment from the University. To discuss pro's and con's of reporting to the Police, Judicial Programs, or the Health Center, and to find out resources for survivors, call 314-2222, the University Health Center's Sexual Assault and Abuse Hotline. It is characterized by shock, disbelief, fear, anger, and phobic reactions to the place where the sexual assault occurred. Some people also experience flashbacks, an immediate sense of reliving the sexual assault, and sleep disturbances. This stage is considered temporary.
Survivors express denial of the sexual assault's impact.
It can be a difficult time, characterized by many of the same feelings that occurred initially, but with more likelihood of resolving them. Survivors may become depressed, have dramatic mood-swings, feel alienated from others, withdraw into themselves. People may startle easily or at times may feel numb. It is at this point that survivors often seek counseling or psychotherapy. Although survivors experience many feelings in the days, weeks, months after being sexually assaulted, including fear, anger, and depression, shame is almost universal, especially when the sexual assault is by someone they know.