What is Voices for Change?

How can you get involved?

Survivors of Sexual Assault

IVRT: Interpersonal Violence Response Team

How can you help a friend after a sexual assault?

In case of sexual assault or dating violence...

How Can I Help A Friend In A Violent Relationship 

Services and 

Peer Education Training Related to Interpersonal Violence

Voices for Change

Voices for Change is a proactive group of male and female students who are dedicated to ending sexual assault, dating violence, and stalking on our campus.

Our mission is to educate all students at NIU about the issues of relationship abuse, sexual assault, and stalking.

How Can I Get Involved?

• Join the Voices For Change peer education team, or call the coordinator at 753-1206 for further opportunities. 
• Become a volunteer at Safe Passage or the domestic violence and rape crisis center in your hometown area. 
• Support campus/local sexual assault and dating violence prevention efforts such as "Take Back The Night." 
• Get informed: Take the Voices For Change 3 credit class offered each year. 
• Get involved: Join other student organizations that combat this type of violence. 
• Be an example to the peers on your residence hall floor, organization, or fraternity and/or sorority house. 
• Speak out against all forms of oppression such as racist, sexist, and homophobic jokes and/or slurs. 
• Organize an awareness-raising event on campus. 
• Attend the Voices for Change workshops scheduled in your hall or with you student organization. 
• Attend the Voices for Change involvement meetings.

Top of Page

Survivors of Sexual Assault

WHAT TO DO IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW IS SEXUALLY ASSAULTED

Sexual Assault is defined by Illinois state law as: Contact, however slight, between the sex organ of one person and the sex organ, mouth, or anus of another. The law also includes the intrusion of objects into the orifices of another and does not focus on whether or not the survivor knows their assailant. Sexual assault happens to men and women by acquaintances, dates, strangers, and family members.

IF YOU ARE A MAN OR WOMAN WHO IS A SURVIVOR OF SEXUAL ASSAULT

• Get to a safe place and call the police (911 or use on campus call-boxes), a friend, or family member for assistance and transportation to the hospital. Remember: Regardless of whether you report or prosecute your case, it is important to be medically examined and treated for possible external/internal injuries, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy, gathering of medical/legal evidence, and referral for emotional needs.

• Do not shower, bathe, douche, wash your hands, brush your teeth, use the toilet, or change your clothing in order to preserve any tangible evidence from the assault. Remember: Going to the hospital to be examined or collecting physical evidence does not mean you have to prosecute your case. If you chose not to report your case a confidential report will be filed. 

• Consider reporting the sexual assault to the police. Remember: You may do this confidentially. Reporting to the police does not mean you must press charges against your assailant. If you decide not to report it immediately, write down all the details of the assault and save them in case you change your mind. 

• If you went to the hospital, it is likely that you talked with a counselor who supported you during the medical examination. After your medical needs are taken care of it is important to arrange follow-up support in the form of individual or group counseling. Friends and family are welcome to attend these with you. Contact the NIU Counseling and Student Development Center at 815/753-1206 for help in obtaining services.

WHAT IF THE ASSAULT IS NOT RECENT?

You or your friend may still need to talk to someone about it. The experience was traumatic and may still be affecting your life. Talking with a rape counselor may help resolve your feelings about it.

Top of Page

IVRT: Interpersonal Violence Response Team

WHERE TO GET HELP: NIU INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE RESPONSE TEAM

     NIU Counseling and Student Development Center:  753-1206

    Campus Police:  911 or 753-1212 (non emergency)

    NIU Health Services:  753-1311

   NIU Judicial Office:  753-1571

  Safe Passage Domestic Violence & Rape Crisis:  756-5228 (24 hour advocacy)

Top of Page

How Can I Help A Friend After A Sexual Assault

Listen:  Believe them.  Don't stop them from talking about what happened.

Encourage your friend to seek medical assistance.  Offer to go with them to a hospital or health service. Remind them that seeking medical help and collecting evidence does not mean they have to prosecute their case.  Don't tell them what you would do or make decisions for them.

Offer Support:  Tell them it's not their fault.  Don't blame them for what happened.

Be Available for shelter and companionship.  Don't tell them to "deal with it."

Help your friend know that they can recover from their experience.  Don't touch or hug them unless you're sure they are comfortable with physical contact.

Provide other options for help.  Let your friend know about services at the five departments listed above.

Top of Page

In case of sexual assault or dating violence...    These Services Can Help You

   NIU Health Service will provide:

• Emergency medical treatment as necessary
• Collection of medical evidence
• Medical follow-up as necessary
• 753-1311
  

   NIU Police will provide:

• Investigation of reported cases of sexual assault, stalking, or dating violence by interviewing the survivor and collecting evidence
• Follow-up investigation for possible prosecution
• 753-1212
  

  NIU Counseling & Development Center will provide:

• Face-to-face counseling and follow-up support for the survivor
• Support during medical examination and police investigation
• Support and counseling for secondary survivors of sexual assault, dating violence, or stalking
• Voices for Change - Peer Education Program
• 753-1206
  

  NIU Judicial Office will provide:

• Judicial review of the sexual assault, stalking, or dating violence complaint
• When appropriate, issue a temporary sanction to assure survivor's safety
• 753-1571
  

  Sexual Assault/Abuse Services will provide:

• Crisis intervention
• 24-hour access to advocates
• Support during medical examination and police investigation
• 756-5228

All services are confidential.
Receiving services (including collection of medical evidence) does not mean a survivor must prosecute the case.

How Can I Help A Friend In A Violent Relationship 

Listen:  Believe them.  Don't stop them from talking about what happened.

Talk: Talk to them about your concerns if you see something that makes you uncomfortable about their relationship such as: frequent bruises and unexplainable bruises or other marks on your friend, controlling or hurtful behavior by their partner, and isolation of your friend from other family and friends are some of the early warning signs to look for. 

Encourage your friend to seek assistance.  Offer to go with them to talk with someone. Remind them that seeking help does not mean that they have to make a decision immediately, or that they will lose control of their own choices. Don't tell them what you would do or make decisions for them.

Offer Support:  Tell them it's not their fault.  Don't blame them for what happened. Help them know that they can recover from this.

Be Available for shelter and companionship.  Don't tell them to "deal with it." Remember: in the case of serious violence it is often safest for the victim to go to a shelter rather than a friend or family member’s house.

Get Help for yourself: If you have questions or concerns about your friend talk to a counselor or crisis worker yourself for support and guidance.

Provide other options for help.  Let your friend know about services at the five departments listed above.

DO NOT go after your friend’s attacker/abuser. Many people do not realize that an action such as this can actually place the victim at greater risk for further harm from their abuser.

Page last updated on December 23, 2004
Contacting CSDC by E-mail