Sexual Violence happens to people of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, religions, abilities, professions, incomes, and ethnicities. Sexual violence is never the victim’s fault!

Sexual violence occurs when someone is forced, coerced, or manipulated into unwanted sexual activity against his or her will or when a person is incapable to give consent due to being underage, having an illness or disability, or being incapacitated due to alcohol or other drugs. Consent can be initially given, and then later withdrawn. 

Consent and Sexual Violence Definitions

The Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) and Northeast State Community College have adopted the following definitions related to sexual violence based upon Tennessee statutes and codes. TBR has determined that these definitions meet requirements as set forth by the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 (VAWA) and the Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act of 2013 (SaVE Act).

Consent

1. Consent cannot be given by an individual who is asleep; unconscious; or mentally or physically incapacitated, either through the effect of drugs or alcohol or for any other reason; or, is under duress, threat, coercion, or force.
2. Past consent does not imply future consent.
3. Silence or an absence of resistance does not imply consent.
4. Consent can be withdrawn at any time.

Resources to help you understand Consent:

Consent: It's Simple As Tea from Blue Seat Studios

Let's Talk About Consent from New York University

Wanna Have Sex? (Consent 101) from Laci Green

What Is Consent? from CampusClarity

Dating Violence

Dating Violence TCA § 39-13-111 is violence against a person when the accuser and accused are dating, or who have dated, or who have had a sexual relationship. "Dating" and "dated" do not include fraternization between two (2) individuals solely in a business or non-romantic social context. Violence includes, but is not necessarily limited to:

1. inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on the accuser by other than accidental means;
2. placing the accuser in fear of physical harm;
3. physical restraint;
4. malicious damage to the personal property of the accuser, including inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by the accuser; or
5. placing a victim in fear of physical harm to any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by the accuser.

Tennessee laws recognize Dating Violence as a form of Domestic Violence.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence TCA § 39-13-111 is violence against a person when the accuser and accused:

1. are current or former spouses;
2. live together or have lived together;
3. are related by blood or adoption;
4. are related or were formally related by marriage; or
5. are adult or minor children of a person in a relationship described above.

Domestic violence includes, but is not necessarily limited to:

1. inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on the accuser by other than accidental means;
2. placing the accuser in fear of physical harm;
3. physical restraint;
4. malicious damage to the personal property of the accuser, including inflicting, or attempting to inflict, physical injury on any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by the accuser; or
5. placing the accuser in fear of physical harm to any animal owned, possessed, leased, kept or held by the accuser.

Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault is the non-consensual sexual contact with the accuser by the accused, or the accused by the accuser when force or coercion is used to accomplish the act, the sexual contact is accomplished without consent of the accuser, and the accused knows or has reason to know at the time of the contact that the accuser did not or could not consent. Sexual contact includes, but is not limited to, the intentional touching of the accuser's, the accused's, or any other person's intimate parts, or the intentional touching of the clothing covering the immediate area of the accuser’s, the accused’s, or any other person’s intimate parts, if that intentional touching can be reasonably construed as being for the purpose of sexual arousal or gratification. [TBR Sexual Misconduct Policy 6:03:00:00]

Please reference Tennessee laws on Sexual Battery and Rape for additional information.

Sexual Misconduct

Sexual Misconduct is defined as dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault. [NeSCC Sexual Misconduct Policy 03:01:08 and TBR Sexual Misconduct Policy 6:03:00:00]

Stalking

Stalking TCA § 39-17-315 is a willful course of conduct involving repeated or continuing harassment of another individual that would cause a reasonable person to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested, and that actually causes the accuser to feel terrorized, frightened, intimidated, threatened, harassed, or molested. Harassment means conduct directed toward the accuser that includes, but is not limited to, repeated or continuing unconsented contact that would cause a reasonable person to suffer emotional distress, and that actually causes the accuser to suffer emotional distress. Harassment does not include constitutionally protected activity or conduct that serves a legitimate purpose.

Sexual Violence Statistics

• 1 in 5 college women will become victims of completed or attempted rape. (Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2000)
• 50% of all violent crimes, including sexual violence, involve alcohol consumption by the perpetrator, the victim, or both. (Abbey et al., 2001)
• Males can also be victims of sexual violence and may be even less likely to report. (Hart & Rennison, 2003)
• Among college women, 9 of 10 victims of rape and sexual assault knew their offenders. (Fisher, Cullen, & Turner, 2000)
• Rape is the most under reported crime; 63% of sexual assaults are never reported. (Rennison, 2002)
• Take a free Sexual Violence Prevention assessment sponsored by eCHECKUP TO GO.

Seeking Immediate Assistance

If you are a victim of sexual assault the VERY FIRST thing to do is get to a safe location and seek medical attention. The local Tri-Cities hospital emergency rooms ( Ballad Health Locations) have staffs trained to assist you. For example, the Johnson City Medical Center has SANE (Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner) nurses to do a free forensic medical examination.

Preserve evidence of the assault by not eating, drinking, smoking, urinating, bathing or showering, douching, brushing your teeth, or changing your clothes. Write down details of the assault to help you remember if and when you file a police report. You may elect to have an exam using a Sexual Assault Forensic Evidence kit whether or not you decide to pursue a criminal investigation, but you MUST get medical care as soon as possible.

Seek the emotional support, legal resources, and financial assistance you need:

Campus Resources

Northeast State Police Department

www.NortheastState.edu/Police

Northeast State’s Campus Police are here to help! Officers can walk students to and from class when concerned about their safety, transport students to a place of safety (such as a shelter or safe residence), provide information on how to obtain an Order of Protection, and transport students to a local law enforcement agency when a victim of sexual violence wants to pursue an arrest warrant against the alleged assailant. Call 423.677.7927 (emergency cell) or refer to the Victim Notification of Rights and Resources for more information.

Counseling Services

www.NortheastState.edu/Counseling

For assistance with confidential reports, contact Denise Walker, a Licensed Professional Counselor/Mental Health Service Provider (Temp), at 423.323.0211 or email counseling@NortheastState.edu . The office is located in the General Studies Building, Room C2101. Counseling is available to help students receive the emotional support and care they need when they have been the victims of sexual assault. A counselor will also help link students to community resources when needed.

Policy and Compliance

Policy and Compliance

Sexual violence is also treated as sexual harassment under federal guidelines at colleges and universities. [NeSCC Policy 03:01:08 - Sexual Misconduct] Whether victims of sexual violence or other offenses, individuals can receive assistance, resources, information, and community referrals from campus responders. For reporting assistance and referral to support services, contact Tracy Barry in Policy and Compliance at 423.354.5296 or email compliance@NortheastState.edu. The office is located in the Pierce Administration Building on the third floor, Room P313.

Financial Aid

www.NortheastState.edu/FinancialAid

A professional staff member is available to help students navigate Financial Aid status changes which may result from being a victim of sexual violence. Call 423.323.0233 for assistance. 

Community Resources

TN SAVIN - Victim Notifications
1.888.868.4631

National Sexual Assault 24-Hour Hotline
1.800.656.HOPE (4673)

Safe Areas