Prevention, Advocacy, and Resource Center

• If you can, get to a safe (or safer) place. Consider calling someone who cares about you to talk to or be with you. Remember, PARC always has an advocate available to you via our 24/7 hotline: 781-736-3370.
• If you feel unsafe, consider contactin Public Safety at 781-736-3333 to get emergency assistance.

SANE Exam

A exam can be performed at a nearby hospital by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). Evidence collection, pregnancy and STI prevention are most effective soonest, so an exam within 48 hours of the assault is the ideal time frame. However, evidence can be collected over a week later in some cases. What is most important is you get the medical care that you need, so even if it has been longer you can still get an exam.

If you can, it's best to avoid using the restroom, changing clothes, combing your hair, cleaning up the place where it happened, showering or bathing before arrival. If you have any evidence you want to show the police or your health care provider, place it in a paper, not plastic, bag.

The exam will take about 3-4 hours and will involve collecting medical history, conducting a detailed medical examination and speaking to you about treatment options for things such as STIs, prophylaxis and emergency contraception. You have the right to accept or decline any or all parts of the exam and the cost will be covered (so you don't have to worry about paying for it or having an insurance bill mailed afterward). You are not required to speak with the police if you get a SANE exam, but you have the option. You can also decide to speak with them later, instead, or not at all!

For more about the SANE exam and tips from PARC:

• 10 Questions to Ask During a SANE Exam (pdf)
• What to Expect During a SANE Exam (pdf)
• More information about SANE programs near Brandeis

Other Medical Care

If you know you don't want a SANE exam, the Health Center can provide medical care. It can offer STI and pregnancy prevention, treatment for injuries and more.

Drug-facilitated sexual assault refers to situations in which alcohol or other drugs are used to make impossible/impair a person's ability to consent to sexual activity. These substances, such as anti-anxiety medication, sleep medication, tranquilizers and rohypnol ("roofies"), inhibit a person's ability to give consent and can cause a gap in memory. These drugs are often referred to as "date rape drugs." Despite the name, perpetrators don’t have to be dates, but can be friends, total strangers or anyone else.

Learn more about symptoms of drug-facilitated sexual assault.

• If you want to report or think you might want to report later, saving evidence now is important. You can choose to receive an exam performed at a nearby hospital by a sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE). Evidence collection, pregnancy and STI prevention are most effective soonest, so getting your exam within 48 hours of the assault is the ideal time frame. For more information about the SANE exam, see the above section on medical care.
• If the person who assaulted you is also a member of the Brandeis community, you can file a report with Brandeis University's Office of Equal Opportunity.
• You can also file a report with Public Safety or with the police department of the local jurisdiction in which the assault occurred. This can be in addition to filing a report with Brandeis or instead of filing a report with Brandeis.
• You can also decide not to file this report (now or ever). No one should make you file a report if you don't want to.

If you choose to report, you can request protective measures from the Office of Equal Opportunity to help you stay safe and successful on campus either during an investigation or just in moving forward. You can ask for help with these from your advocate in PARC or directly with the contact office listed. Examples of things you might find helpful:

• Temporary or permanent Brandeis housing assignment change.
• Alteration or removal of university directory information
• University "No Contact Orders" or court-issued restraining orders (to ensure that shared classes or other shared experiences are avoided).
• Assistance with explanation of and transportation to local law enforcement for reporting purposes (for example, filing a report with Waltham Police or the Waltham District Court).
• For undergraduate students, guidance from Academic Services at 781-736-3470, which can help you communicate with faculty and keep up your academic obligations through tutoring and other academic resources, planning meetings and academic advising.
• For graduate students, additional support for navigating coursework and other responsibilities is available from Graduate Student Affairs at 781-736-3547.
• Assistance with referrals to on- or off-campus physical or psychological health resources.
• Assistance with transportation to, and explanation of, municipal report filing (for example, Waltham Police or Waltham District Court/assistant district attorney’s office).
• Assistance with immigration and visa issues.