Sexual violence is any kind of sexual contact against a person's will and without consent. Sexual violence can happen to anyone, no matter their age, gender-identity, race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation, class background, religion, or ability.
The term “sexual violence” includes:
Most sexual assaults are perpetrated by people who are known and trusted by a survivor. Sometimes survivors question whether what they've experienced is assault, especially if the person who harmed them was a partner or someone with whom they've had consensual sex in the past. Some people are sexually assaulted by someone they don't know or don't know well.
Survivors' needs often change over time and decisions around support, reporting and healing are ongoing. Some decisions, such as receiving a sexual assault forensic exam (SAFE), are time sensitive. Resources, such as on-campus counseling and advocacy, are available no matter when the assault occurred. Survivors can choose to speak confidentially with a VAV advocate for information about their rights and options. Other resources, such as the Student Emergency Services Advocates and Interpersonal Violence Peer Support program are also available. If you are a UT student and would like to know more about survivors’ rights and options, including reporting, please see the UT Austin Title IX Resource Guide.
The University of Texas at Austin is committed to maintaining a learning environment that is free from discriminatory conduct based on gender.
The official policy of UT Austin can be found here: http://catalog.utexas.edu/general-information/appendices/appendix-d/.
