Sexual Safety by the Numbers
Definition: In Montana, rape is called "sex without Consent," and it is defined as an unwanted penetration of a vagina, anus or mouth by an object or body part. Sexual Assault is when someone has sexual contact with you, but you didn’t want it. This term encompasses things like fondling, attempted rape, and completed rape.
Commonly Asked Questions
Sexual Assault happens to men as well as women. Men are most likely to be a victim of sexual assault as young boys and teenagers. Some studies suggest that 1 in 6 men have been victims of sexual assault (Tjaden, P. & Thoennes N. “Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women.” Washington D.C., National Institute of Justice, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Nov. 1998).
Women are most likely to be victims of a rape or an attempted rape between the ages 12 and 24. One in three to one in four women will be victims of rape or attempted rape during their college careers (Tjaden, P. & Thoennes N. “Incidence and Consequences of Violence Against Women.” Washington D.C., National Institute of Justice, U.S. Dept. of Justice, Nov. 1998).
Carroll College Statistics:
Stranger rape is rare. Over the past ten years all the reported rape victims at Carroll, except one, have known their assailants. They were either students in the victims’ classes, ex-dating partners, or acquaintances they knew from the resident halls, work, or other on and off-campus places.
Alcohol and sex don’t mix. Over the past nine years, without exception, alcohol was involved with every rape case except one; either one or both people involved in the rape had been drinking. Montana law says that an individual who is incapcitated in some way (drugs, alcohol, injury) CANNOT give consent. This means that you could technically be prosecuted for rape EVEN IF the victim consented but was incapcitated by alcohol or drugs.
Is someone you know a victim of dating violence?
Answer 'yes' or 'no' to each question:
- Is someone you know afraid of his/her partner’s temper ?
- Is someone you know afraid to disagree with his/her partner ?
- Is someone you know afraid of his or her partner’s violence toward others ?
- Has someone you know been shoved, kicked, hit or had things thrown at them ?
- Is someone you know limiting their time with family & friends because of a partner’s jealousy ?
- Has someone you know been forced to have sex ?
- Is someone you know forced to justify—to his or her partner—everything they do and everywhere they go ?
- Has someone you know been wrongfully accused of flirting with others ?
- Is someone you know afraid to go out without their partner’s permission ?
- Has someone you know become secretive or hostile to friends and parents because of this relationship ?
- Has someone you know been threatened by their partner ?
- Do you know someone who’s dating partner destroyed or damaged his/her property?
- Has someone you know been ridiculed or insulted by his/her dating partner ?
- Is someone you know being manipulated with lies or un-kept promises ?
- Is your friend dating someone who uses alcohol or drugs as an excuse for violent behavior ?
If you've answered "yes" to any of these questions, or you know someone who may need the help of the counseling staff, call the Wellness Center at (406) 447.5441 or The Friendship Center, Victim Advocate, (406) 442-6800.
Are you a victim?
Carroll College has a victim advocate, The Friendship Center at 1430 N Sanders St. in Helena. The Friendship Center is the Helena center for sexual assault and domestic violence - contact them at 442-6800 or after hours at 1-800-248-3166, or email officem@thefriendshipcenter.org. All of your conversations with either the counselors or a victim advocate from the Friendship Center are confidential.
You can also contact the Carroll College Wellness Center at (406) 447-5441 to meet with a counselor or nurse. Their services are also free and confidential.