Sexual Misconduct
Georgia State University does not tolerate sexual misconduct and prohibits crimes of sexual violence such as dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, rape and stalking. The Dean of Students office, Student Victim Assistance, Student Health Promotion, Student Health Clinic and Counseling Center work collaboratively to prevent sexual misconduct, provide support to students who have experienced sexual misconduct and respond to reports of sexual misconduct. By working together, we can create a campus free of sexual misconduct.
On Campus Resources
Student Health Clinic Confidential Disclosure, Medical Care
Counseling Center Confidential Disclosure, Counseling<
Student Victim Assistance Confidential Disclosure, Advocacy
Dean of Students Incident Reporting
Georgia State University Police Department Law Enforcement Reporting
Student Advocacy and Outreach Academic Support
Student Health Promotion Prevention Programming
Helpful Links
After Sexual Assault
If you have been sexually assaulted, you are encouraged to seek medical attention and explore your reporting options. A Student Victim Assistance staff person can assist you in exploring these options. Remember, sexual assault is not your fault. As you explore your options, below you will find a list of suggestions of what survivors should do following an assault:
Seek Safety
Make sure you are safe from further harm. Call someone you trust, such as a friend. In addition, there are many places on campus to seek support and assistance. The Counseling Center, Student Victim Assistance and the Student Health Clinic provide confidential services to students who have experienced a sexual assault. If you have concerns about your immediate safety, you can contact the Georgia State University Police Department (404-413-3333) on campus and local police (911) off campus. Student Victim Assistance provides 24/7 crisis line support. You can contact us for resources and support.
On Campus Housing
If you are a resident of University Housing, contact your Resident Assistant (RA) or a Professional Staff Member (Residence Hall Director or Assistant Hall Director) to discuss your safety concerns and options for a temporary or permanent room change. After hours, you may contact the RA on duty at the number posted throughout the building for assistance.
Off Campus Housing
If you live off campus, consider speaking to your landlord about increased safety measures that can be implemented in your unit. Consider staying with a friend or family member until your concerns are resolved. You can also contact a sexual assault or domestic violence crisis service to learn about housing resources in your area.
Schedule
Inform your friends and family members of your schedule as well as what time they should expect to see you or hear from you, especially if you are experiencing domestic violence, dating violence and or stalking.
Employment
If you are employed, consider speaking to your supervisor about the availability of an alternative work schedule or assignment relocation to make it more difficult for someone to find you. Provide a picture of the person you are concerned about to those around you, so they can identify the person.
Travel to Work or School
Consider alternative routes of travel to school, work, and home. Safety escorts are available on campus by contacting the Georgia State University Police Department at 404-413-2100.
Seek Medical Attention
Go to a local rape crisis center or emergency room. The closest hospital to the Georgia State University Atlanta campus is Grady Memorial Hospital. For medical assistance near our campus locations, visit our resources section or contact Student Victim Assistance for more information. Medical attention is vital, as you may have injuries of which you are unaware. They can also test you for sexually transmitted diseases and provide emergency contraception if desired. It is important that you receive treatment at a facility where the staff is specially trained to provide care for sexual assault survivors and to use the correct methods for evidence collection. If you have any questions before or after medical treatment, you may contact Student Victim Assistance.
Preserve Evidence
If you choose to have evidence collected, the sooner this is done, the more reliable and potentially useful it will be. Even though you may feel the urge to do so, do not bathe or douche. Try not to urinate if possible. If oral contact took place, do not smoke, eat or brush your teeth. If you have already changed clothes, place them in a paper bag (plastic destroys evidence). If you have not changed, keep the original clothes on and bring an extra set to wear home from the hospital. The police may need to keep your clothes for evidence. Victims of sexual assault in the state of Georgia may request, at no cost, a forensic medical examination regardless of whether the victim participates in the criminal justice system or cooperates with law enforcement in pursuing the prosecution of the crime. You do not need to formally report the incident to seek medical attention or support services from the university. Contact Student Victim Assistance for more information about resources on and off campus.
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.
- If you are in immediate danger, call 911.
- 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 when a victim tries to leave or end the relationship.
- Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency or a domestic violence or rape crisis program. They can help you devise a safety plan, give you information about local laws, refer you to other services and weigh options such as seeking a protection order.
- Develop a safety plan, including things like changing your routine, arranging a place to stay and having a friend or relative go places with 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.
- Do not communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you.
- Keep evidence of the stalking. When the stalker follows you or contacts you, write down the time, date and place. Here is a useful stalking incident log in which information can be recorded. Keep emails, 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.
Obtaining a Protective Order
Anyone who has experienced stalking, dating violence, domestic violence or family violence may be eligible to file for a protective order. These crimes can be dangerous and invoke a great deal of fear and anxiety, which may impact many aspects of a victim’s life. A protective order is one action that can assist victims to begin to feel safe again. Below is information about protective orders in the state of Georgia, eligibility requirements and a link to obtain the forms for filing. Contact Student Victim Assistance for assistance with the filing process or if you have questions.
Obtaining a Stalking Protective Order
The state of Georgia prohibits stalking. Individuals who experience stalking may petition the court for an order of protection against a stalker.
A stalking protective order is a court document that requires an individual to stop engaging in stalking behavior. A stalking protective order is typically for up to one year, but can be extended for three years, or be permanent. Contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 for resources for completing a protective order.
Eligibility
Individuals who are being followed, harassed or intimidated and fear for their safety can file a petition for a protective order. Individuals do not need to have an intimate relationship with, or be related to, the person stalking them in order to be eligible for a protective order. Individuals can file against anyone who is stalking them*. The stalker does not have to be arrested for someone to be eligible for a protective order from stalking. Additionally, if someone obtains a protective order, he or she can still pursue criminal charges against the stalker.
* O.C.G.A. § 16-5-94(a)
Obtaining a Family Violence Protective Order
The Georgia Family Violence Act is a law to protect people who are abused by present or past spouses, parents of the same child, parents and children, stepparents and stepchildren, foster parents and foster children or other persons living or formerly living in the same household. It can also be used to get temporary custody, financial support and other assistance for the abused person.
A Temporary Protective Order (TPO) is a court document that requires an individual to stop engaging in domestic violence, dating violence or stalking. A TPO is typically for one year but can be extended for three years or be permanent. Contact Student Victim Assistance for additional information and assistance with filing a TPO. For additional support options, see our available resources.
Eligibility
Atlanta Victim Assistance provides information to help in understanding protection orders. According to Atlanta Victim Assistance, individuals are eligible to file for a Temporary Protection Order if they have experienced acts of violence from a spouse, ex-spouse, parent, stepparent, foster parent, child, stepchild, foster child, any person who lives or lived in their household as if part of the family or the mother or father of their child, even if they have never lived with the victim or has never been married to the victim.
Family Violence Protective Order forms are available online through the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority.
Contact Us
24-Hour Student Victim Assistance Phone Number
Senior Coordinator, Student Victim Assistance
Monique W. Massey, MSW
Phone: 404-413-2098
Coordinator, Student Victim Assistance
Kiesha Rudolph
Phone: 678-891-3878
Locations
Atlanta: 75 Piedmont Avenue NE (Citizens Trust Building), Suite 239. Students should notify someone at the Counseling Center reception desk that want to see someone in Student Victim Assistance.
Clarkston: 555 N. Indian Creek Drive, Suite CH-1347.
Hours of Operation
Student Victim Assistance is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. throughout the calendar year with the exception of university holidays.
After Hours, Weekends and University Closings
In case of emergency outside of normal business hours, on weekends and university holidays, call the Georgia State University Police Department at 404-413-3333 on campus or 911 off campus.
For non-emergency assistance, call Student Victim Assistance at 404-413-1965 and press "2" to speak with an on-call advocate. Student Victim Assistance staff will follow up on the following business day.
