Sexual and Interpersonal Violence

Survivors

Lewis & Clark College is committed to supporting a culture of respect and non-violence. This entails providing a learning environment free of all forms of abuse, assault, harassment, and coercive conduct. Below find resources for survivors of sexual or interpersonal violence, prevention initiatives on campus, and policies and procedures for responding to violence on campus. No matter who you are, where you are, what you do, or what you have done in the past, gender-based violence is never your fault. We are here to help.

If you are in an emergency situation, please call Campus Safety at 503-768-7777, or call 911. If you need after-hours crisis support, please contact Call to Safety at 503-235-5333, or the Sexual Assault Resource Center at 503-640-5311.

The Confidential Advocates (formerly SARAs) are also available to provide advocacy, information, and support. Find here the list of current CAs and their contact information.

You have the right to live without fear or violence, regardless of your age, gender, sex, sexual orientation, class, race, ethnicity, religion, ability, lifestyle, or experience. You have the right to dress in any manner, to go to any place, and to be with any people without encountering fear or violence. You have the right to give or deny your consent to any sexual activity, regardless of what you have chosen or not chosen in the past, and you have the right to withdraw that consent after it has already been given without encountering fear or violence.

You have the right to never, ever be blamed for an act of gender-based violence perpetrated against you.

If you are a survivor of any form of violence, you have the right to be believed, validated, and supported. You have the right to choose what path you will take toward justice and recovery, and what form healing will take. You have the right to choose when, how, to whom, or even if you report the incident. You deserve to be believed, validated, and supported, and to live without fear or violence.

Issues common to all survivors

Fear, humiliation, self-blame, depression, denial, powerlessness, anger and suicidal feelings are common.
The need to be believed and reassured that what happened was in no way their fault.
The need to be given the dignity of making their own decisions about any course of action.

Issues common to survivors from marginalized or underrepresented communities

Survivors from marginalized or underrepresented communities (including queer/trans survivors, male survivors, survivors of color, and/or survivors with disabilities) have the same basic needs, but may experience additional barriers or concerns around accessing support, including:

Uncertainty of knowing the level of sensitivity of resources
Fear of not being believed
Concerns about the small size of the community they are part of
Cultural stereotypes and stigma attached to being a victim

LC’s Confidential Advocates and the community resources receive specialized training to help all survivors, with a focus on the needs of survivors of color, survivors with disabilities, LGBTQ+ survivors, and male-identified survivors. If you are hesitant about reaching out, a friend can help you make the call.