Sexual violence is any kind of sexual contact against a person's will and without consent. Some commonly heard terms that fall under the umbrella of sexual violence include:
- Sexual Assault: Any unwanted sexual contact, including intercourse, touching, or oral sexual stimulation that is performed without consent, often through the use or threat of force.
- Rape: Any kind of sexual intercourse (penetration) - vaginal, oral, or anal - that is committed against a person's will or is committed with physical force or the threat of force. Intercourse during which the victim is drunk, unconscious or otherwise considered unable to consent is also rape. Rape is a subcategory of sexual assault.
- Sexual abuse: Any action performed by a person in order to feel sexually stimulated without the other person's consent, such as watching, touching, or sexually assaulting the victim, or speaking to the victim in a sexual nature.
Sexual Violence Issues
If you or someone you know would like more information on advocacy options or other services available to students dealing with sexual violence, please call the Counseling and Mental Health Center at 512-471-3515. When you call, ask for an appointment with a counselor who works with the CMHC Voices Against Violence (VAV) Program.
