Sexual Assault FAQs
- Sexual or physical assault
- Direct solicitation of sexual activity
- Unwelcome sexual remarks about a person’s clothing or body
- Display of sexually offensive posters, pictures, words, graffiti or messages
- Explicit sexual questions, innuendoes, gestures, jokes, stories, and anecdotes
- Sex-related behavior accompanied by promise of reward or threat of punishment
- Be supportive and nonjudgmental
- Regardless of the intent of prosecution, medical care is strongly suggested
- Do not pressure a friend into any decisions
- Recovery is a process, not an event
- Do not ask why it happened
- Do not question the person’s character or motives
- Inform victim about the resources available, including campus resources, but allow them to make the choice
Report and seek assistance from:
- Assistant Vice President for Academic and Student Success; or
- Director of Campus Safety; or
- Title IX Co-Coordinator (Director of Human Resources); or
- In incidents involving sexual assault, the victim is encouraged to contact local law enforcement (911) or Office of Campus Safety (859-341-7233)
- Thomas More Counseling Services, 859-344-3521
- Thomas More Health Services, 859-344-3529
- Campus Safety, 859-344-7233
- Women’s Crisis Center, 859-491-3335
- St. Elizabeth Hospital Emergency Department, 859-344-2200
Yes, the college will not sanction you for your use of drugs or alcohol in the event of sexual misconduct.
Some measures that the university can take include:
- Modification of on-campus living arrangements
- Receiving a grade of Incomplete (I) for a class
- Transferring class sections
- Rescheduling of an assignment or grade
- Counseling services
Students have the opportunity to seek the assistance of the University’s counselor and to seek the assistance of other faculty and staff members on campus. When engaging in a counseling relationship with the University’s licensed therapists or in a nurse-patient relationship with the campus nurse, your personal information is protected, with the EXCEPTION, that the counselor or nurse must make notification of non-personalized information regarding the incident when a threat exists to others.
All faculty, staff and student employees at Thomas More University, except where protected by privilege, are required to notify the Dean of Student Affairs, Campus Safety or the Title IX Coordinator if an instance of sexual misconduct is reported to them.
Any member of the Thomas More Community, including students, faculty, and staff, may report complaints of harassment or discrimination.
No. Complaints may be made by speaking to any of the following:
- Assistant Vice President for Academic & Student Success; or
- Director of Campus Safety; or
- Title IX Co-Coordinator (Director of Human Resources):
- However, they may request that you prepare a written statement.
Do not contact the alleged victim by any means including electronic communications. You may want to immediately contact the Office of the Dean of Students to explain the university’s procedures for dealing with sexual misconduct complaints. Retaliation by either the alleged victim or accused student will not be tolerated.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is federal legislation that bans sex discrimination in education programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.
Title IX – Glossary Definitions
Yes. The definition is the same regardless of who the perpetrator is —- if there was no consent, there is sexual assault.
Ten points to keep in mind after a sexual assault:
- The harassment or assault was NOT your fault. Even if the person who assaulted you was someone you know, you are IN NO WAY RESPONSIBLE! HE OR SHE COMMITTED A CRIME.
- Get yourself medical attention. You need and deserve it. You have been hurt – you may possibly have sexually transmitted infections – and you won’t know unless you go to a clinic or a doctor. You can ask someone who understands to go with you.
- You are not going crazy; almost any reaction is normal. There are no rights or wrongs about the way you reacted. You may experience recurring thoughts, dreams or flashbacks. Talk with someone who knows – a therapist, rape counselor or understanding friend. Talk about what you’re going through when YOU are ready. It will help.
- Surround yourself with supportive people, who understand and support you. We all need people. Social contact may help you feel less isolated and more connected. Supportive people may include friends, family, teachers, religious leaders, counselors or advocates. There may be some people who do not understand or who are not able to give you the support you deserve. Keep connected with those who can offer you support.
- Recognize that your assault may also affect those around you. Their reactions may vary. Encourage others to seek the support they need to deal with their own feeling and reactions. You do not, however, have to take care of them.
- Be aware of numbing the pain with overuse of drugs or alcohol. Explore other coping techniques. Find ways that help you heal from the trauma you have experienced.
- You have every right to cry, scream and be as upset as you feel. Having many different feelings- anger, fear, whatever – is a normal reaction to what happened to you. You may be able to forget about it for a while, but don’t be surprised if you get upset when something reminds you of the assault.
- Rape is not sex. Comparing rape to sex is like comparing a slap in the face to a kiss. Being raped doesn’t mean you will never have a normal sex life. It doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy having sex when YOU decide that you’re ready.
- Healing and recovery take time. Patience and understanding are important. Trying to act like being harassed or assaulted is no big deal will not minimize what you are feeling. Take very good care of yourself and seek the help that YOU need when YOU are ready.
- The rape is over. You have survived, and you WILL survive.