SAFER

Sexual Assault Prevention

Protect Yourself & Others from Acquaintance Rape

SAFER wants you to remember that you have the power to reduce the risk of sexual assault if you remember the "4 As" of sexual assault prevention:

  • Avoid certain situations.
  • Assess the situation to determine sexual assault probability.
  • Acknowledge that a situation may be dangerous.
  • Act to get out of the situation, alert others, defend yourself, and intervene if you see someone else is at risk.

These are described in more detail below.

SAFER also wants to alert you to the problem of "bystander apathy" and "pluralistic ignorance." This occurs when people fail to intervene because no one else appears concerned. Ironically, those seemingly unconcerned bystanders are also wondering whether they should do something but are taking their cues from other unsure bystanders. This prevents anyone from taking needed action. Many times bystanders witness assaults or pre-assault behavior and fail to intervene due to this type of ignorance. Please be aware that if you notice any of the "red flags" that indicate an increased risk of sexual assault, you should take action regardless of others' inaction; chances are that others will join you and regardless, you will know that you did the right thing.

REMEMBER the first "A" of prevention: AVOID

AVOID becoming intoxicated:

  • To the point where, if you are female, you are unable to identify a situation as potentially dangerous, give your consent, or successfully resist a sexual assault.
  • To the point where, if you are male, you are unwilling or unable to clearly obtain a women's consent.
  • With acquaintances in private settings.

Being intoxicated makes it harder for people to assess a situation as dangerous and makes it harder for them to resist inappropriate advances.

Some rapists also use alcohol to excuse their behavior and make it harder for a woman to claim lack of consent. Sexual predators often use alcohol and other drugs as tools to accomplish rape. One study of college men even found that 12% reported using alcohol to obtain sex and 15% reported being sexually forceful or aggressive when drinking (Carr and Van Deusen, 2004).

If you become intoxicated, stick with a close friend. If a close friend becomes intoxicated, do not leave them alone or with a male acquaintance.

Also, in general, avoid being alone with an acquaintance in a private place, a room, a car, a park, etc. Most people will not rape under these circumstances but a sexual predator will. Get together with dates, study partners, etc. in a public place.

REMEMBER the second "A" of prevention: ASSESS

ASSESS for "pre-rape" behaviors:

  • Men that seem controlling, overly sexual towards women.
  • Although these pre-rape behaviors are not always present, they are in many cases.
  • Don't interpret pre-rape behaviors as complimentary or attractively masculine, interpret them as dangerous.

ASSESS your instincts:

  • Women and men often have a second sense that a situation is dangerous to themselves or others. Trust your "gut."
  • Men often have a second sense that they should not continue with their advance or that another man is at risk for raping.

ASSESS your ability to give consent and to resist unwanted sexual advances.

ASSESS your ability to evaluate whether a person is giving consent or would not consent were s/he not intoxicated.

Men should also assess for behaviors that might meet the legal definition of rape so that they can keep their male friends and acquaintances out of legal trouble.

REMEMBER THE third "A" of prevention: ACKNOWLEDGE

ACKNOWLEDGE that the situation is risky if:

  • A man exhibits pre-rape behaviors.
  • The situation is one where people are heavily intoxicated such that a person cannot truly consent, cannot recognize danger, or cannot resist an attacker.
  • The situation is one in which a man is heavily intoxicated such that he cannot ask for, or understand, communications regarding consent, or might use his intoxication as a excuse for inappropriate sexual behavior.
  • The two people are in a private place such as a room or car.
  • Your "gut" tells you so.

REMEMBER the fourth "A" of prevention: ACTION

Women:

  • Once the situation has been identified as a potential rape situation.
  • Intervene if another woman appears at risk.
  • If you are at risk,
  • Firmly communicate "no."
  • Leave the situation by whatever means necessary.
  • Yell and call for the attention of others.
  • Fight back!
  • Women who resist are less likely to be raped, to be blamed for the rape if raped, suffer fewer physical and psychological aftereffects, and are perceived as more credible by juries. However, it is always a personal decision whether or not to fight back--in some cases a woman may be unable to or may have reason to believe that she will experience greater harm if she does.

Men:

  • Act to stop initiating sexual behavior if, after asking, the person says "no" or if the person is incapable of saying "no."
  • Act to stop other men from initiating sexual behavior if a sexual advance is possibly inappropriate. This means intervening when the situation is one where the risk is high for acquaintance rape, when a man touches or talks about women inappropriately, appears likely to take advantage of women in an intoxicated state, is himself very intoxicated, or has been heard to talk about women in such a way that it seems likely that he might sexually assault.

Protect Yourself and Others from Drug-Facilitated Sexual Assault

Remember this simple slogan to prevent drug-facilitated sexual assault:

Think: Protect Your Drink

Prevention is easy--don't accept drinks that you didn't see poured right in front of you AND don't leave your drink unattended. Watch out for your friends' drinks too.

  • Prevention is easy--watch your drink.
  • Do not drink beverages you did not open or pour yourself.
  • Don't take a drink from a punch bowl.
  • Don't drink from a container being passed around.
  • If someone offers you a drink, go with them to watch it being poured and carry it yourself.
  • Don't leave your drink unattended.
  • Don't drink anything that has an unusual taste (keep in mind though that some of these drugs are tasteless).
  • Watch out for others' drinks.
  • Consider having the designated driver also be the "drink police."
  • Talk to friends about suspected incidents so you can avoid people and places suspected of "dosing."
  • Consider reporting suspected incidents to the police or SARP so they have better idea of where these things occur and who to keep an eye on.
  • Although you can do things to prevent drug facilitated rape this doesn't mean it's your fault if it happens to you. Once again, if you are a victim, the fault lies with whomever raped you, so don't hesitate to report it and get the support that you may need.

Protect Yourself and Others from Stranger Rape

ReMEmber to take these precautions to reduce your risk of "stranger rape" (and remember to remind your friends and roommates to take them as well). Follow these recommendations from Cal Poly's Police Department:

On the street:

  • Whenever possible walk with friends.
  • Avoid walking alone after dark.
  • Stay on populated, well-lit streets.
  • Be alert! Look around you; be aware of who is on the street and in the area. Make it difficult for anyone to take you by surprise.
  • Wear loose-fitting clothing and comfortable shoes that make walking and running easier.
  • If you think someone is following you turn around and check; the surprise of a hostile look or aggressive word might change a potential attacker's mind. You can also head for people, lights, traffic, or run and scream.
  • Don't respond to verbal assaults, walk away, ignore, notify law enforcement.
  • If a car follows you or stops, change directions; walk or run toward people, stores, classrooms, offices, or a house if necessary.
  • On frequently traveled routes, note the location of emergency "blue light" phones on campus and coin phones located off campus before you ever need them. In essence, take note of your surroundings.
  • If you don't carry a cell phone, consider obtaining one. Please note: cell phones, even when they are not connected to a cell phone service, can still be used to contact 9-1-1.
  • If you are near a public phone, call 9-1-1 whenever you feel that you're in danger. (Please note: public phones do not require coinage to make a 9-1-1 call.)
  • Walk to your car, or home, with your key ready.
  • Park your car in well-lighted areas and as close as possible to your destination.
  • Check beneath the car and in the back seat before you get in to make sure that no one is hiding there.
  • While driving, keep the doors locked at all times so that a person can't jump in when you stop.
  • If you are followed by another car, drive to a police or fire station, hospital emergency entrance, or any open business. Do not go home or to a friend's house. Use your cell phone and call 9-1-1.
  • Use the University Police Escort Service for transportation on and off campus in the evening. For details, call University Police at 756-2281.

In your apartment or house:

  • Install good locks on doors and windows. Door chains offer little protection. Use deadbolts for greater security.
  • Never put your address or vehicle make on your key ring. Your lost key ring will be of no value to a criminal unless she/he can find the lock that your keys fit.
  • Never advertise that you are not at home. Answering machine messages should never include statements like "I'm not at home now."
  • Always pull shades or curtains after dark.
  • List last name and initials only on mailbox, doors, in the phone book, etc.
  • Make sure your home address can be easily seen by fire and police services.
  • When away from home at night, or if you expect to return after dark, leave an interior light on in a couple of rooms with the shades drawn.
  • Never open the door without first checking to see who is there.

Getting Involved with Community Prevention Efforts

If you would like to work with community programs to prevent sexual assault or assist survivors, contact:

Both SARP and SAFER provide many different ways to get involved, ranging from the short-term to the long-term. For instance, you can help for a short period of time by assisting with various events to raise awareness or funding. You can help in the longer term by undergoing training to provide support services for survivors (SARP) or to do sexual assault prevention presentations (SAFER).