Title IX - Stop Sexual Violence

If You Experience or Witness Sexual Misconduct

• If you believe you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911 as soon as possible.
• All people should get help if they witness or experience sexual misconduct or violence.
• If you experience sexual violence, you are not to blame. It does not matter when it happened, where it happened, or what the circumstances surrounding the incident were. It is not your fault.

Seek Medical Attention

No matter what happened, you should seek medical attention as soon as you can, even if you are not sure if you want to report the incident. 

• It is the best way to protect you from the risk of sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy.
• And, even if you think you are physically okay, you may have injuries that need treatment. 
• You can choose to go to the Foothill Student Health Center (2126 in the lower level of the Student Center) if the assault occurred on campus. Call the Student Health Center at 650.949.7243. 
• You may also choose to go directly to any local hospital’s emergency department.

It is important to have a forensic exam done.

• This ensures that evidence gets collected in case you decide to report what happened to the police or campus authorities. 
• While the Student Health Center does not complete forensic exams, they can help get you connected to the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center Rapid Medical Evaluation & Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) in San Jose; they provide these exams. 
• SART provides medical and forensic response to victims of sexual assault who go to their Emergency Department, 24 hours a day. 
• For more information about the evidentiary exam process and purpose, please contact The SART coordinator's office at 408.885.6466.

Preserve Evidence of the Sexual Violence

While you might be tempted to try to erase all signs of what happened to you, and understandably so, it is important to preserve the evidence. You may need it to provide proof of criminal activity or to obtain a protection order.

Do not do any of the following things until you’ve gotten medical attention and/or contacted the police.

• Bathe or shower
• Use the restroom
• Change clothes
• Comb hair
• Clean up the crime scene
• Move anything the offender may have touched

Do not try to collect evidence yourself. Get help from medical or law enforcement personnel as soon as possible, or at least within 72 hours of the assault.

Get Confidential Emotional Support

• Psychological Services & Personal Counseling is located at the Campus Center (2120)  or call 650.949.7910.
• Counselors in Psych Services are considered confidential employees and cannot share any information you tell them without your written consent.

Off-Campus Community Support & Resources

About Confidentiality

Foothill strives to uphold privacy and confidentiality as much as possible, and only shares information received with those who have a need to know in order to respond. 

Individuals who desire anonymity in discussing and seeking assistance about sexual misconduct should contact and/or be referred to a confidential employee on their campus.

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What To Do If You Know a Complainant of Sexual Assault or Harassment

• Encourage that person to read this document, seek medical care and talk to a trained counselor or sexual assault advocate.
• Be clear that you support that person. Most importantly, consider and protect that person’s privacy.
• Be sensitive to what they are going through as part of the healing process.