JBU Sexual Assault Response Guidelines for First-Responders
Below are five actions to take if a student informs you that she/he was sexually assaulted. The spirit of
these actions is intended to empower the student to make choices to care for themselves.
Facilitating a student through the following actions can be hard. If you need support in working with a
student, inform him or her that you need help in helping them. For example, you might say: “What you are
telling me is very painful. It must have been difficult to go through and just telling me now might be really
scary for you. I think for me to help you right now, I’m going to need some help. Who can we contact to
walk through this with us?” You may suggest their RD, the Nurse, OCF staff, or counselor.
Important: Go to the Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital Emergency Room if the student has an
immediate injury (e.g. broken arm, head trauma, severe bleeding) or call 911.
Action #1
Listen. Do not judge. Believe what they say. Tell the student that it was not her/his fault
and that they do not have to go forward alone. Encourage the student to preserve
evidence.
Action #2
Inform the person of the following options:
 Contact Northwest Arkansas Rape Crisis Center (NWARCC)
www.nwarcc.com 24/7 Hotline: 1-800-794-4175. This is an advocacy agency
that offers free services (including a free medical exam) at all hours. This option
is highly suggested. You may call them if the student prefers.
 Contact Campus Safety to make a report if the assault happened on JBU
property. (This can be done anonymously.)
www.jbu.edu/life/safety/
 Contact police (from the area where the assault happened) to make a report if
the assault occurred off-campus.
 Go to a primary care physician. If the assault happened in the past, this might be
an option to follow up with the student’s primary care physician. If the assault
happened in the last 72 hours (or at any time), it is preferable to refer the student
to NWARCC.
 Make a decision to do one or more of the above tomorrow or a later date.
 Take no option.
It is important to remember that these are options to encourage. The decision ultimately
lies with the survivor of the sexual assault. No decision should be forced.
Action #3
Encourage the student to contact JBU Health Services www.jbu.edu/life/studev/health/,
the Student Counseling Center www.jbu.edu/life/studev/counseling/, and/or OCF
www.jbu.edu/life/christform/
Action #4
Document what you were told. This is to help you for follow-up if needed. It’s important
to remember that you are not an investigator.
Who: Name of the student and name of alleged perpetrator(s)
What: Occurred
When: The assault happened
Where: The assault took place
Now: Their immediate plan for safety (#2) and plan for self-care (#3).
Action #5
Consult/Debrief: Get help processing what happened and what future obligations you
may have to the student and to the University. The Student Counseling Center and Health
Services can help you sort through your decisions and experience with the student.
NWARCC is also available to help you during this often confusing and painful time.