SUBJECT:

Community Alert - Sexual Battery

As the Sun God festival approaches this weekend, the UCSD Police Department would like to notify students that sexual assault, sexual battery and sexual misconduct cases have been reported during and following these events in years past.

The University of California, San Diego does not tolerate sexual assault, sexual misconduct or sexual harassment. The University encourages anyone who has been sexually assaulted or subject to other forms of sexual misconduct or harassment to report the incident to University officials.

The information about these incidents is being reported to you in accordance with the Clery Act. The remainder of this email provides information about preventing and reporting sexual assault.

* Ignorance of the law or of university policy concerning sexual assault, sexual misconduct and sexual harassment is not a defense.

* Receive affirmative consent from your partner before engaging in sexual activity.

* Perpetrators may attempt to use alcohol and/or drugs to facilitate a sexual assault. Statistically, the majority of reported sexual assaults occur while one or both parties are under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Alcohol or drugs may impair one's ability to judge whether or not consent has been given, but it is never an excuse for choosing to violate another person.

* There are a number of drugs that may be added to beverages with the intent of altering the consciousness or incapacitating a person without their knowledge. These drugs are particularly dangerous when combined with alcohol and often produce amnesia, leaving a victim unclear about what occurred afterward. These drugs can facilitate criminal activity, most often acts of sexual misconduct or sexual assault.

* Sexual assaults are never the fault of the survivor, and keeping UCSD safe is everyone's responsibility. You can help prevent sexual assaults by identifying common behaviors that often precede sexual assault, and taking action if you see those behaviors happening. A person who is attempting to separate someone who is intoxicated from their friends, or continuing to pour drinks for someone who is clearly beyond their limit are recognizable red flags. You can help by attempting to reconnect someone who is intoxicated with their friends, or agree to call a CSO to escort that person home.

The UCSD Police Department encourages anyone who believes they or a friend has been the victim of a sexual assault to immediately contact their local law enforcement agency. On campus, the UCSD Police Department can be reached at 858-534-4357. Survivors of any form of sexual assault are encouraged to seek confidential support at UCSD Campus Sexual Assault Resource Center/SARC (CARE) at the Student Services Center #555 (SSC).CARE advocates are available 24 hours a day at 858-534-5793. Additional information on options for reporting sexual violence and resources for survivors can be found at the following sites:

CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center SARC http://sarc.ucsd.edu

Office of Prevention Harassment and Discrimination (OPHD) http://ophd.ucsd.edu/