What is Intimate Violence?

"Intimate violence" refers to acts of sexual assault, intimate partner violence, stalking, and sexual harassment. Click this page to read more about these different types of violence, some red flags to be aware of, and resources for support.

Confidential Support Resources

You have the right to access confidential resources both on and off-campus following an experience of intimate violence. Regardless of if your experience happened at Wes, before coming to Wes, or somewhere outside of Wes, you have a right to access resources for healing. Confidential resources hold your identifying information and details of your experience private, if you choose to disclose part or all of your narrative to them. A full list of resources is included in this link.

Non-Confidential Support Resources

If you or someone you know have experienced intimate violence or harm, you have the right to access additional resources that aren’t confidential both on and off-campus. Non-confidential resources, some of which may be "Responsible Employees" on-campus, are required to share identifying information regarding your narrative and experience with the Office of Equity and Inclusion on campus. A full list of resources is included in this link.

Hospital Advocacy & Evidence Collection Kits

If you're curious to learn more about what an evidence collection kit (commonly known as a "rape kit") is, what it entails, and some information about survivor advocacy at the hospital offered by community providers, this link is an introduction.

How to Support a Friend/Colleague

What would you do if a friend, colleague, sibling, neighbor, or peer confided in you about an experience of harm? How would you respond? Here are some things to consider in engaging in "trauma-informed support" for friends/colleagues whom have experienced harm.

FAQs about Support

Here are some frequently asked questions on defining support for those who have experienced harm, what it looks like, and how best to be supportive to others.