PREVENTING DATE RAPE

Remember that rape is rape.

As a woman, You can...

• Be clear with men in your life about what, if any, sexual behavior you are comfortable with and keep talking as you get deeper into a relationship.
   

• Be aware of  your environment in all situations.  Always use precautions whether on campus, in the borough, in your hometown, or on vacation.   Do not invite anyone into your room who is intoxicated, or who you don't know well.
   

• Don't use alcohol or other drugs - they decrease your ability to take care of yourself and make sensible decisions.
   

• Trust your gut feelings. If a place or the way your date acts makes you nervous or uneasy, leave. Always take enough money for a phone call for help.
   

• Purchase a cellular phone to use in case of emergencies. Pre-program in your police department's phone number.
   

• Check out a first date or blind date with friends. Meet in and go to public places. Take public transportation or drive your own car.
   

• Leave social events with friends not with someone you just met or don't know well.
   

• If possible, let a friend or roommate know who you are with and where you will be. Leave an address and phone number when possible.
   

• Always watch your drink and never leave it unattended. Don't accept beverages from someone you don't know and trust.

RAPE DRUGS

• Rape drugs are put into a victim's drink, food or even chewing gum and used to make them more vulnerable to rape.
  
  To reduce the risk:
   

• Do not leave beverages unattended.
   

• Do not take beverages from someone you do not know well and trust.
   

• At parties, bring your own beverages and do not accept open-container drinks from anyone.
   

• Leave with the same group of people that you came with to the party.

AS A MAN, YOU CAN....

• Realize that forcing a woman to have sex against her will is rape, a violent crime with serious consequences.
   

• Accept a woman's decision when she says "no." Don't see it as a challenge.
   

• Ask yourself how sexual stereotypes affect your attitudes and actions toward women.
   

• Don't use alcohol and other drugs - it clouds your judgment and understanding of what another person wants.
   

• Get help if you see men involved in a gang rape.
   

• Understand that if a woman is drunk and you have sex with her against her will, it's still rape.

• Seek counseling or a support group to help you if you feel violent or aggressive toward women.

IF DATE RAPE HAPPENS

You are not to blame. Remember that and know that action against the rapist can prevent others from becoming victims.

• Get help immediately. Phone the police, a friend, a rape crisis center, a relative. Don't isolate yourself, don't feel guilty or ashamed, and don't try to ignore it. It is a crime that should be reported.
   

• Get medical attention as soon as possible. Do not shower, wash, douche, or change your clothes. Valuable evidence could be destroyed.
   

• Get counseling to help you through the recovery process. Rape is a traumatic experience and trained counselors can make recovery easier and quicker.
   

• If you think you've been sexually assaulted under the influence of a date rape drug, get medical help immediately. Try not to urinate before providing any urine samples. If possible, collect any containers from which you drank.

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