Get Help
If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
Safety Alert: The abuser may be monitoring your computer use. Consider using a safer computer such as one in a public library or one available on campus.
If you have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating or relationship violence, stalking, or sexual exploitation, the University is committed to getting you the help and support you deserve.Medical care and other steps you can take
Victim of Sexual Assault or Rape
More information about finding and accessing support, understanding your rights and options, and sorting through your emotions.
It is recommended to get medical attention as soon as possible for injuries, treatment, and for evidence collection.
Most hospital emergency rooms conduct sexual assault evidence exams within 72 hours (in some cases up to 120 hours) after the assault. You will not be charged for the cost of the evidence exam. You do not need to formally report the incident to law enforcement to obtain medical attention or receive support services.
To better preserve evidence, do not shower, bathe, douche, wash your hands, brush your teeth, or use the toilet.
- It is recommended to not change or destroy clothing. If you arrive at the hospital wearing the clothing you had on at the time of the assault, those will be kept as evidence and you will be provided with fresh clothing.
- If you choose to change your clothes, don't wash or destroy clothing. Also preserve towels, bedding or any other item that may contain physical evidence.
- Place all evidence in a paper bag. Never use plastic as it will destroy DNA evidence.
- If it occurred in your home, apt, or residence hall room don’t move anything.
- If you think you have been drugged, it is especially important to go to the hospital immediately and tell them that you suspect you were drugged.
- As hard as it may be not to clean up, you may destroy important evidence if you do.
Medical support services in the area
If you need assistance with transportation contact the Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center which has arrangements with a local taxi company to provide transportation to be paid for by the Center.
St. Cloud Emergency Trauma Center (320) 255-5656, 1404 6th Ave. N., St. Cloud, MN
Provides emergency medical services, sexual assault evidence exams by SANES (Sexual assault Nurse Examiners), treatment for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy test and emergency contraception.
St. Cloud State Medical Clinic (320) 308-3191
Does not provide evidence exams but will document injuries, provide needed medical treatment, treat sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy tests and emergency contraception.
Victim of Relationship Violence
Remember: You cannot change a violent partner’s behavior, but you can take steps to try and remain safe.
Relationship violence includes and is sometimes referred to as dating or domestic violence.
Seek medical care and document injuries (if needed)
St. Cloud Emergency Trauma Center (320) 255-5656
Provides emergency medical services
1404 6th Ave. N.
St. Cloud, MN
St. Cloud State Student Medical Clinic (320) 308-3191
Medical evaluation, treatment and documentation of injuries.
Contact an advocate
Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center (320) 251-4357
If you cannot wait or your safety is at risk, you can call:
– 911 (for all emergency or safety concerns)
– National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: (800) 273-8255
– Four County Crisis Response Team: (320) 253-5555
– Crisis Text Line: Text MN to 741741
– Anna Marie’s Alliance (local emergency shelter): (320) 253-6900
– National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233
Develop a personalized safety plan
Have a set of clothes and sets of important documents (savings account records, check books, safety deposit keys, birth certificates, school records, deeds, other legal documents) for yourself (and children) stored at a friend's house at work or a locker at school in the event you need to flee quickly.
- During violent situations
Think of a relatively safe place in your home to go if an argument occurs. Avoid rooms with no exits (bathrooms) or rooms with weapons (kitchens). Do not hesitate to lie or pretend to go along with the abuse in order to stay as safe as possible. - Arrange a signal with a neighbor to inform them you need help or assistance.
Have a code word or sound with friends or family members so they know to call for help. - Plan a safe time to get away
You can call the police to come while you quickly pack to leave. Plan ahead and pack a bag you keep hidden with credit cards, medications, license, and other important papers. Have extra sets of car keys made. - Consider filing a petition for a protective order with the civil court
Contact an advocate at the Women’s Center or Anna Marie’s Alliance to assist you in filling out the petition.
For more safety planning tips, see Personal Safety Planning Guide.
If you feel unsafe on campus, call the St. Cloud State Public Safety Department’s escort service at (320) 308-3333.
Victim of Stalking
Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. No two stalking situations are alike. There are no guarantees that what works for one person will work for another. Yet you can take steps to increase your safety.
Work with someone to help you devise a personalized safety plan specific to your situation.
- Trust your instincts. Don’t downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably are.
- Take threats seriously. Danger generally is higher when the stalker talks about suicide or murder, or a victim tries to leave or end the relationship.
- Develop a safety plan, including changing your routine, arranging a place to stay, (you may want to talk about alternative housing on campus) and having a friend accompany you. Also, decide in advance what to do if the stalker shows up at your home, work, school, or somewhere else. Tell people how they can help you.
- Don’t communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you. However, do monitor the messages to look for patterns of escalation.
- Keep evidence of every incident. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, write down the time, date, place, and how it made you feel. Keep emails by printing them out, phone messages, letters, or notes. Photograph anything of yours the stalker damages and any injuries the stalker causes. Ask witnesses to write down what they saw.
- Consider getting a protection order that makes it illegal for the stalker to contact you in any way. You may also be able to get a no-trespass order for campus in certain situations.
- Tell family, friends, roommates, and co-workers about the stalking and seek their support. Tell public safety or staff at your job or school. Ask them to help watch out for your safety.
- Contact the police (320) 345-4444 and/or public safety (320) 308-3333. Stalking is a crime. The stalker may also have broken other laws by doing things like assaulting you, or stealing or destroying your property. Contact Public Safety for information on protecting yourself on campus.
- File a harassment/discrimination complaint with the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion & Title IX Coordinator in the Office for Institutional Equity & Access (320) 308-5123.
Other Resources
Support and reporting
Get help determining if misconduct occurred
These resources are not confidential, however, are available as a resource to help you determine if what you have experienced goes against St. Cloud State University policy.
- Vice President for Equity and Inclusion & Title IX Coordinator (320) 308-5123
- Public Safety (320) 308-3333
- Division of Student Affairs
If you are a residential student, conversations can start with your CA. - Faculty and staff
- Human Resources for employee inquiries (320) 308-3203
Confidential options are also available, see "Get confidential counseling and support" below.
Get confidential counseling and support
All of the following resources can assess your needs and make referrals for other services as needed. They can also explain your reporting options and assist you in your decisions about reporting to law enforcement and/or campus.
On-campus resources
- Women's Center (320) 308-4958
Provides support counseling, advocacy, referrals, safety planning, assistance with protection orders, referrals, support groups, and assistance with filing student conduct violations and assist with academic support. -
Counseling and Psychological Services (320) 308-3171
Provides counseling to help undergraduate and graduate students address the personal, mental health, and academic issues that arise in their lives. -
Medical Clinic (320) 308-3191
Provides treatment and documentation of injuries, STI testing and treatment, emergency contraception and a full pharmacy.
Off-campus resources
Relationship violence
24-hour crisis lines are available through:
- Anna Marie's Alliance (320) 253-6900
- National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-7233 or TTY 1-800-787-3224
Sexual violence
- Central Minnesota Sexual Assault Center (320) 251-4357 or 1-800-237-5090
- National RAIN (Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network) Hotline 1-800-656-HOPE
Consider filing a report
Attempted, threatened or actual sexual violence is a crime. You have the right to report it.
Learn about your reporting options.
Additional resources
Safe housing
If you live off campus and are not safe, you can get emergency housing on campus in the residence halls for a short amount of time. During business hours, call the Gender Violence Prevention Program at (320) 308-3995 and after hours call Public Safety at (320) 308-3333. If you are living off campus and want need to move for your safety, Minnesota law allows victims of sexual assault, domestic (relationship) violence and stalking to terminate a lease. You can work with an advocate from the Gender Violence Prevention Program.
If you are in the residence halls on campus and feel unsafe, you can talk with your hall director about moving to a different hall.
Safety plans and threat assessments
Advocates at Anna Marie's, (320) 253-6900, and at the Gender Violence Prevention Program, (320) 308-3995 can help you assess the level of danger you are in and develop a personalized safety plan. This may include finding ways to prevent unwanted contact such as alternative classes, housing or other accommodations.
You may want to consider filing a harassment restraining order or an order for protection with civil court. Advocates can help you find out if you qualify for one. Protection orders are a legal document from the courts that prohibits harassment, stalking, physical violence or threats of physical violence by the abuser.
Drug facilitated sexual assault
Drugs or alcohol can be used by perpetrators to decrease someone’s ability to recognize what is happening, to impair their ability to resist and to diminish their memory of what occurred.
The most common drug that is used is alcohol. There are other drugs, such as sleeping aids, Reynolds or GHB that can be put into a drink and are hard to detect.
Signs that you may have been drugged:
- If you feel a lot more intoxicated than your usual response to the amount of alcohol you have consumed.
- You may experience an increase in dizziness or nausea.
- If you wake up very hung over, feeling “fuzzy”, experience memory lapse and cannot account for a period of time, or have effects last longer than usual.
- If you feel as though someone had sex with you but you cannot remember any or all of the incident.
What if I think I have been drugged?
Listen to yourself
Do not doubt what you feel. Don’t listen to acquaintances who may have been around you that night who tell you that you were “really messed up.” Some drugs will make you seem to others that you are drunk or high when you have had nothing or very little to drink. Go with your instincts. You know when something has happened to you.
Call a trusted friend or family member and go to the hospital
You’ll need someone with you that can think clearly, because chances are, the drugs are making it hard for you to think. Drugs used to facilitate sexual assault leave the body quickly; it is important to go to the hospital immediately so a urine sample can be gathered. When you arrive at the emergency trauma center, tell them immediately that you suspect that you were drugged.
Do not blame yourself
It is important to remember that it is not your fault. The responsibility for the assault lies with the perpetrator, not you.
Don't let alcohol or drugs prevent you from reporting
St. Cloud State follows the Good Samaritan exception to the Drug and Alcohol policy. See the "Consider filing a report" section above.
Specialized services
All of the resources listed on this website are available to all victim/survivors. The following are additional resources for specific populations.
Accessibility
A student with a disability recognized under the Americans with Disabilities Act may require new or adjusted accessibility services if they are involved in a sexual violence or misconduct situation. Student Accessibility Services is available to provide helpful resources and assist with accommodations.
LGBTQ
- St. Cloud State LGBT Resource Center
- National Domestic Violence Hotline (LGBT)
- Forge is a national transgender anti-violence organization, which provides direct services to transgender, gender non-conforming and gender non-binary survivors of sexual assault.
Male
Male victims experience similar effects of sexual violence as female victims such as shame, grief, anger and fear. Male victims may also have issues surrounding their sexual and/or gender identity after a sexual assault. Issues of reporting and talking about their experiences may be especially difficult for male victims because of gender socialization issues.
Women of Color
Sexism and racism intersect and it is this intersection that creates a higher risk of sexual violence and relationship violence for women of color. There can also be more barriers for women of color when seeking out help. Sexual violence committed against women of color is sometimes seen as insignificant and justified by stereotypes of women of color. The Women’s Center can help find materials and organizations that specifically address these barriers.
Traveling Abroad
Sexual assault is a worldwide issue. Response to sexual harassment and assault varies from nation to nation. Your safety and health is a priority. You should never feel obligated to engage in activities that make you uncomfortable. If you experience harassment or sexual violence while abroad, get to a safe place. Notify your faculty director, local police or an individual whom you trust.
Transferring to another University
A student who has reported sexual assault to St. Cloud State University and subsequently chooses to transfer to another college or university, may request information about resources for victims of sexual assault at the college or university to which they are transferring. Any of the sources listed above can assist in gathering this information.
Sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation
Anyone can be commercially sexually exploited. Sometimes sex traffickers target college students with the promise of something of value. Commercial sexual exploitation can be any sexual activity traded or exchanged for something of value or the promise of something of value. Something of value includes, but is not limited to, money, a place to stay, food, clothes, rent, transportation, drugs, alcohol, medication, protection, a job or survival. Examples of CSE include survival sex/rape, prostitution, pornography, sexting, escorting, erotic massage, stripping, exotic dancing, webcamming, or sugar daddy arrangements.
Minnesota law states sex trafficking involves a third party who aids in the above (including driving, facilitating, or profiting from the prostitution of another). For more information and help: https://cmsac.org/human-trafficking-services/