WILLIAMSBURG, Va. (WAVY) — An on-campus sexual assault was reported at William & Mary late last week.
University officials said in a news release Friday afternoon William & Mary Police received a third-party report that a student had been sexually assaulted on campus.
Officials said there is no indication of an “on-going threat to the campus community.”
Anyone with information is asked to contact William & Mary Police at 757-221-4596.
A spokeswoman says the alert was required by the Cleary Act. They also sent it out to inform students and remind them there are resources available to help. Those include:
• The Haven — A peer-based confidential, welcoming and inclusive resource center for those impacted by sexual violence and harassment, relationship abuse and intimate-partner violence, stalking and other gender-based discrimination (Campus Center 166) — 221-2449
• The Counseling Center (McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, 2nd Floor) — 221-3620
• The Dean of Students Office (Campus Center , Room 109) — 221-2510
• The Student Health Center (McLeod Tyler Wellness Center, 2nd Floor) – 221-4386
• The W&M Police Department (201 Ukrop Way) — 221-4596
• Title IX Coordinator (109 James Blair Hall) –221-2743
• Residence Life Staff in your area (RA, HR, HD, Area Director)
• W&M Sexual Violence Website: www.wm.edu/sexualviolence
10 On Your Side spoke with a local nonprofit, the Avalon Center.
“People don’t always have somewhere to go and if they have somewhere to go, they may not know what to say,” said Juanita Graham, who is the director of outreach services for the center.
She says sexual assaults are often underreported.
Graham said, “Probably the most thing is they’re scared to report. They may feel like nobody’s going to believe me. They may feel guilty or shame about the situation, so there could be multiple reasons.”
The Avalon Center works with the College of William and Mary, both as a resource and as a place for support and healing.
“We do have some students that utilize our services and the fact that they are working very hard there to try to help be a support for survivors there,” Graham said. “It’s not an easy process to heal from because it affects people on so many different levels. You’re dealing with an emotional piece, physical piece, socially, it impacts them.”
The center offers counseling, emergency shelter, youth services, and more. Last year, they helped nearly 1,500 people.
Graham says, if you see someone in a potentially bad situation, speak up.
“If they get upset with you, they get upset with you,” she said. “But if you can do that and it helpes stop something, that’s a greater good that can come out of that.”
