Sexual Assaults

Sexual assault is troubling to contemplate and tragic to experience. At the community level, it can pose a danger to all and foster fear and distrust. To respond to these concerns, Knox College has developed the sexual misconduct policy and established a grievance procedure that applies to all members of the College. As well, Campus Safety and the Student Development Office have developed the following information if you are assaulted or know someone who has been assaulted.

• Sexual Assault refers to sexual acts or sexual conduct, such as rape, attempted rape, incest, and sexual contact carried out against your will. It is an act of aggression, expressing power, dominance, anger, or degradation through intimidation, coercion, threat of force, or force. Women between the ages of 15 and 24 are especially at risk, although men and children are sexually assaulted as well.
• Acquaintance Rape is rape by someone you know. The rapist may be another student, a date, neighbor, friend, supervisor, teacher, employer, friend of the family, or casual acquaintance. The risk of being assaulted by an acquaintance is four times greater than the risk of being assaulted by a stranger. On college campuses, more than 80% of women who were assaulted knew their attackers.

These descriptions of sexual assault and acquaintance rape are for use within Knox College and may differ from technical definitions used in the law.

Knox’s authority to sanction members of the College community is limited and applies only to the violation of College rules, policies, and procedures. The legal system of the State of Illinois offers recourse through law enforcement officials and the courts. To pursue legal action, contact the police or the State’s Attorney.

Incidents reported to a College official will be handled with care and concern for the person assaulted and for the welfare of the campus. For reasons of campus safety, the College may need to make a brief campus announcement of the incident, using no names. Certain officers of the College may be informed on a confidential basis (e.g. the President, Dean of Students, Director of Campus Safety).

Each year, the College statistically reports the occurrence on campus of certain major violent crimes,including sexual offenses, in an annual report on campus crime statistics. This statistical report does not include personally identifiable information. For information on counseling resources and campus policies and procedures, contact a member of the Student Development staff or a member of the Grievance Panel.

If You Are Assaulted

• Try to remain calm. Call someone you trust -- a friend, a Student Development staff member, a Resident Advisor, a family member, a crisis center, or Knox's counseling service. To report a crime, contact campus safety at ext. 7979 or the Galesburg Police Department at 309-343-9151.
• For your health and safety, you are encouraged to seek medical attention. A trip to the hospital emergency room can have two purposes: 1) to secure necessary medical attention for health concerns such as physical injuries, sexually transmitted disease and pregnancy; 2) to collect necessary evidence in case you decide at some time (then or later) to pursue legal prosecution.
• It is in your best interest not to bathe, shower, douche, change clothes, apply medication, urinate, or defecate. Any change in your appearance may destroy evidence crucial for later legal prosecution. Hospital personnel can perform the appropriate exam at the emergency room. If you have changed clothes, gather them and any other evidence in paper bags.
• You are encouraged to report the crime to the police. Regardless of whether you pursue action through the public courts, you have the option of pursuing charges on campus through the Grievance Procedures if the individual or individuals involved are members of the campus community. Until formal on-campus proceedings have been concluded, the President (or the President's designee) may temporarily impose restrictions on or suspend the person accused.
• Following an assault, you may experience a wide range of emotions and stress-related symptoms. Some symptoms may linger for some time. Help is available on campus and in the surrounding area.

If Someone You Know is Assaulted

• Reassure the person. Listen, be open, supportive, and nonjudgmental. The survivor may feel a loss of control as a result of the assault. Let her or him make the necessary decisions.
• After an assault, survivors may exhibit a wide range of emotions and stress-related symptoms including calm, anger, guilt, shame, fear, and anxiety. These are all normal reactions. These feelings may linger long past the immediate crisis.
• Encourage the person to seek medical assistance. Be sure the survivor takes a change of clothing to the hospital.
• Encourage the person to report the crime to the police. Remember, however, it is the survivor’s decision to make.
• Regardless of whether any action is pursued in the public courts, the survivor has the option of pursuing charges on campus through the Grievance Procedures if the individual(s) involved are members of the campus community. Until formal on-campus proceedings have been concluded, the President may temporarily impose restrictions on or suspend the person accused.
• People close to a survivor may also need assistance coping with their feelings and the stress the incident has brought to their own lives. Help is available on campus and in the surrounding area.

If you are the victim of a sexual assault, Knox College will assist you in changing your academic and living situation upon request, if the change is reasonably available. Procedures for campus disciplinary action in cases of an alleged sex offense are described in the Student Handbook. The accuser and accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding. Both the accuser and the accused will be informed of the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding brought about from an alleged sex offense. For the purpose of this act, the outcome of a disciplinary proceeding means only the institution’s final determination with respect to the alleged sex offense and any sanction that is imposed against the accused. Knox College may impose sanctions ranging from a warning to permanent separation from the College following a final determination of an institutional disciplinary proceeding regarding rape or other forcible or non-forcible sex offenses.

Sexual Assault Resources

Knox Counseling Service

• Daniel Larson: 309-341-7492

Office of Student Development Staff
Debbie Southern 309-341-7225, 309-343-4567

• Tianna Cervantez 309-341-7231, 309-335-3845
• Kathleen Drake 309-341-7303, 309-335-2802
• John Haslem 309-341-7151
• Daniel Larson 309-341-7492
• Risa Lopez 309-341-7111, 309-335-2804
• Craig Southern 309-341-7223, 309-343-4567
• Koreen Kerfoot 309-341-7945, 309-335-7855
• Terrie Saline 309-341-7436, 309-341-3291
• Kathleen Ridlon 309-341-7085, 309-368-1439

Office of Campus Safety

• Main number: 309-341-7979

These college officials, except counseling services, must report the occurrence on campus of certain major violent crimes, including sexual offenses, in an annual report on campus crime statistics. This statistical report does not include personally identifiable information.

Community Resources

• WIRC-Community Action Agency Victim Services 24-hour Crisis Line
  309-837-5555 (You may call collect)
• National Sexual Assault Hotline: RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network)
  1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
• Galesburg Cottage Hospital Emergency Room: 309-345-4386
• Safe Harbor Family Crisis Center: 309-343-SAFE (7233)
• OSF St. Mary Medical Center: 309-344-3161
• Police/Public Safety Building: 9-1-1 or 309-343-9151