FAQ's 

What is the University doing to prevent assaults from happening?

The University strives to create an environment that is free from sexual assault.  The University provides education and outreach by informing the community of its sexual violence policy and providing ongoing programming, education and support through the Dean of Students Office, New Student Orientation, the Wellness Center, Residence Life, Public Safety, Luann Dummer Center for Women, and many other departments.  In the past year a Sexual Violence Programming Committee was initiated to assess the climate around sexual violence and provide programming and education to the campus community.  Additionally, the University takes concerns of sexual assault very seriously and does not tolerate actions that go against the University’s commitment in creating a safe environment for the UST community.  Further, the University encourages its members to be proactive in informing any concerns or instances of sexual assault. 

I’ve been accused of assaulting someone.  Where can I go for support?

Accused students have the same support services offered to them as students initiating the complaint.  The Dean of Students Office can assist you in understanding the UST Resolution Process and help you assess the situation and determine what the best course of action may be.  Confidential support is available at Personal Counseling and Student Health Services. 

I’ve been accused of assaulting someone.  What are my rights?  What steps should I take?

If you have been accused of assaulting someone, you have the right to a fair investigation.  In addition, you have the opportunity to tell your side of the story and provide witnesses in the event of a formal investigation.  For more information on your rights and your next steps, contact the University Ombudsperson or the Dean of Students Office. 

What do I do if the assault begins affecting my academic work?

If an assault begins affecting your academic work you may choose to gain assistance from Academic Counseling.  You or the Dean of Students Office can contact an academic counselor to get assistance with managing your coursework, and if appropriate, contacting professors.  If you or the Dean of Students Office contact Academic Counseling, confidentiality of the matter will be maintained by generalizing the incident as a major life event or something of the sort.

My friend has been assaulted.  How can I support him/her?  Where can I go for support?

The most important thing you can do is listen and offer support to your friend.  Don’t feel like you need to have all the answers or need to know how to solve everything.  Your friend, first and foremost, is looking for someone who is willing to listen and believe them without blaming or passing judgment.  Also, it is important for you to know what your own limits are in supporting your friend.  Know resources on and off campus to which you can refer your friend.

It is important that you are also taking care of yourself.  The Dean of Students Office and Personal Counseling are both excellent resources for talking through the situation, understanding how you can best help your friend, and dealing with the many emotions you may be experiencing.

For extensive information on helping a friend who has been assaulted, visit the Sexual Violence Web site.

If a sexual assault took place off-campus, can I still report it to UST?

Yes.  Filing a report or contacting University officials is an opportunity for you to gain assistance in dealing with the assault.  In addition, Personal Counseling and Student Health Services can offer confidential support regardless of where the assault took place.

Are the University’s services free?

There is no charge for going through the UST Resolution Process of the sexual violence policy.  In addition, support services offered by Student Health Services, Personal Counseling, the Dean of Students Office, and others are all free to UST students.

Where can I go for help with domestic violence?

There are many UST resources available to you regarding issues of domestic violence.  The Dean of Students Office can aid with protective issues and ensuring safety and security by providing help with gaining a restraining order or going through the judicial process. Personal Counseling also offers confidential support in individual sessions with professional staff members.  The Minnesota Center Against Violence and Abuse (www.mincava.umn.edu) provides additional off-campus local resources. 

What services does UST Student Health Services provide with regard to sexual assault?  Can I get a pregnancy/STD/HIV test?  How much does it cost?

Student Health Services offers free pregnancy testing, sexually transmitted disease (including HIV) testing and gynecology exams at no cost for enrolled UST students.  Individuals who come to Student Health Services recently after an assault has occurred, however, will be referred to an area hospital with specialties in dealing with sexual assault victims.  Additionally, prescriptions for any treatment can be prescribed by Student Health Services, but the student is responsible for those additional costs.

What is the difference between sexual misconduct and sexual violence?

The line between sexual misconduct and sexual violence is difficult to define.  The basic difference between the two is intent to commit the assault.  Sexual violence is committed with the intent of harming another person or satisfying one’s own impulses.  Sexual misconduct is an incident in which the perpetrator failed to correctly gain consent and assess the situation, but did not intend to cause harm. 

The formal definitions as outlined in the St. Thomas Sexual Violence Policy are found below:  

As outlined in St. Thomas Sexual Violence Policy, “sexual violence is defined as any act of violence or force committed without the complainant’s consent, for the purpose of satisfying the actor’s sexual or aggressive impulses, including but not limited to contact of a person or a person’s clothing in the genital, groin, inner thigh, buttocks, or breast areas, or the use of threat of force or coercion which requires the victim to commit or submit to any kind of attempted sexual act.  This includes a physical act that is sexual in nature, is intentional, and is committed either by:

1.                   physical force, violence, threat or intimidation;

2.                   ignoring the objections of another person;

3.                   causing another’s intoxication or impairment through the use of drugs or alcohol in order to take advantage of another person; or

4.                   taking advantage of another person’s incapacitation, state of intimidation, helplessness, or other inability to consent.”

Sexual misconduct is just one of the many types of sexual violence.  The St. Thomas Sexual Violence Policy states, “the University recognizes there may be occasions when a sexual act or sexual acts are committed without the intent to harm another but where, by failing to correctly assess the circumstances, a person believes unreasonably that effective consent was given without having met his/her responsibility to gain effective consent.  This may be considered sexual misconduct.” 

What is the point of an informal meeting?  What results could come of it?

Should a student choose to get informal assistance through the University, the student will have an informal discussion with a Process Coordinator.  The main purpose of the discussion is to review all of the options available to the student, including but not limited to an informal discussion with the respondent in the presence of a third party.  Along with other investigative information, an informal discussion may also be the basis for protective action from the University. 

A formal discipline sanction for the accused student cannot result from an informal discussion; however, the complainant may end the informal process and begin the formal process at any time.

I was assaulted on campus while I was a guest of the University.  Am I covered by the UST policy?  What support can I get?

Incidents involving guests of the University are handled on a case-by-case basis.  If you were assaulted while you were a guest of the University, contact Public Safety or the Dean of Students Office for assistance in dealing with this matter.

I would like to report an assault to the police.  How much support will the University provide?  How much can Public Safety be involved?

All of the usual campus support services are available to you as are working with the police.  Resources and support are available from many offices, including the Dean of Students Office, Personal Counseling, and Student Health Services.  In addition, if you would like University assistance throughout the process of filing with the police, Public Safety and/or the Dean of Students Office are ready and willing to provide support.  Some examples of support that Public Safety can provide in such situations include assistance in conducting an investigation, collecting evidence, providing support throughout interviewing, offering referrals and additional resources, etc.  Based upon your wishes, the University is willing to be involved to the extent possible.