On Wednesday, March 29, 2017, the Virginia Tech Police Department received a report of a sexual battery that occurred sometime between 4:30pm and 6:15pm on Sunday, March 19, 2017 at Squires Student Center, 299 College Avenue, on the Virginia Tech campus.  The survivor and offender are both Virginia Tech students and were previously acquainted. 

This information is being released in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act, commonly known as the Clery Act.  The Clery Act requires all colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs to keep and disclose information about crime on and near their respective campuses, including timely warnings of crimes that may represent a serious or ongoing threat to the safety of students or employees.

The Virginia Tech Police Department reminds all community members of the following information about sexual assault. Note that this information is general in nature and does not necessarily relate to any specific incident:

According to a US Department of Justice report, one in every five college women and one in every sixteen college men will be the victim of a sexual assault or attempted sexual assault during their time in college.

Survivors are never responsible for the offenders' behavior.

The most common type of sexual assault is not by a stranger but by someone the victim knows, typically a date or acquaintance.

Alcohol and drugs are often used to create vulnerability to sexual assault. Studies of sexual assault incidents show a high correlation between acquaintance rape and drug/alcohol usage. Be alert to people pressuring you or others to use alcohol or other drugs.  Be alert to people pressuring you or others to accept either alcoholic or non-alcoholic drinks prepared by others.  If you do not feel comfortable accepting a drink you did not prepare yourself, do not do so.

Trust your instincts. If you feel uneasy or sense something is wrong, do what you can to get out of that situation or call for assistance.

Use and encourage others to have a companion or a safe means of getting home, i.e., a trusted friend, taxi, or Safe Ride if available.

Be active in supporting a safe and respectful community. If you see others engaging in disrespectful or inappropriate actions, speak up and get involved, or contact someone else to assist. For more information, see: http://stopabuse.vt.edu/Get_Involved.html

If you engage in sexual activity, be sure you understand your partner's limits, and communicate your own limits clearly. Don't engage in sexual activities without affirmative consent from your partner.

If you have imminent concerns for the safety of others, call the police to ask for assistance.

If you are sexually assaulted, you have several options. Please see related information at this website: www.stopabuse.vt.edu. The website has guidance for filing anonymous or formal reports. In addition, assistance is available through the following resources:

  • Women's Center at Virginia Tech: 540-231-7806
  • Women's Resource Center of the New River Valley: 540-639-1123
  • Kelly Oaks: Title IX Coordinator: 540-231-8771
  • Frank Shushok: Deputy Title IX Coordinator: 540-231-8064
  • Cook Counseling Center: 540-231-6557
  • Dean of Students Office: 540-231-3787
  • Virginia Tech Police Department: 540-382-4343

If you report a sexual assault that occurred on the Virginia Tech campus, Virginia Tech Police will investigate, provide assistance, and offer related services to support your safety and well-being. If the crime occurred in another jurisdiction, Virginia Tech Police will assist you in accessing assistance in that jurisdiction.

The Virginia Tech Police Department offers a range of personal safety programs, including a Rape Aggression Defense courses. For more information:  http://police.vt.edu/programs-training/rad.html

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