Sexual Misconduct Support Services

The Office of Student Advocacy provides a variety of response and support services for survivors of power-based personal violence, like sexual violence, relationship violence, stalking, sexual harassment, sexual exploitation, etc.

The Director of Student Advocacy serves as a Victim’s Advocate, a trained professional to support survivors of crime.

Our Advocate provides a safe, confidential space for a survivor to talk about what happened, what the survivor is feeling, and help empower the survivor to navigate the path to healing.

Our Advocate knows about the different offices, services, or reporting processes that are available to survivors and can help explain how each may be helpful so that the survivor can make informed decisions.

Crisis Management: Sometimes a person needs to process what they’ve experienced with a knowledgeable, professional person who can listen and provide emotional support without judgment, and we are honored to serve in that capacity
Safety Planning: A safety plan can help a person think about the available resources and options and develop a plan to keep them safe when going through a traumatic event
Education about Trauma: Understanding what is happening in the physical and emotional bodies can make an enormous difference after experiencing a traumatic event
Discuss Coping Strategies/Techniques: We all have strategies that we use to take care of ourselves when things get rough, but exploring new options for coping and self-care can be beneficial when faced with a traumatic event
Assistance with No Contact Orders/Protection Orders: There are both legal and university options available to officially ask someone to stay away from you if they have or are actively causing harm
Academic Accommodation Requests: Succeeding in school can become difficult after experiencing a traumatic event, so we can work with Title IX and your professors to help you continue to be successful
Discuss Reporting Options: There are several ways to report sexual misconduct, both within the university and within the criminal justice system; we’re happy to help talk you through what those options are so you can choose the one that works best for you
Serve as Title IX Advisor: As part of the formal Title IX investigation, all parties are required to have an advisor to assist throughout the process; we are happy to serve in this role as needed
Transportation to/from Hospital: When there is a need for medical intervention at a hospital, such as a forensic exam, we are happy to provide transportation and support
Referrals to Counseling (both on and off campus): Counseling can be a powerful support measure for those who have experienced a traumatic event and we do our best to connect students with the resources that can best help
Referrals to On and Off Campus Resources and Agencies: When the Office cannot provide a particular service, we will always connect survivors with those resources that do offer those services

As a student who has experienced sexual misconduct:

You have the right to an educational environment free of harassment or retaliation
You have the right to report to the university if you have experienced sexual misconduct in any form (gender-based discrimination, sexual harassment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking, or sexual exploitation) through the Title IX Office
You have the right to interim housing and reasonable academic accommodations
You have the right to counseling and support
You have the right to seek legal action against the perpetrator by reporting to law enforcement
You have the right to request that no further action be taken by the university
You have the right to a support person throughout the university investigative process
You have the right to preserve physical evidence of an assault through a sexual assault forensic exam, free of charge with or without reporting to law enforcement
You have the right to apply for Crime Victim Compensation through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute
You have the right to appeal a determination or sanction
You have the right to seek legal advice

You have the right to access a grievance process through the Office of Civil Rights

If a friend or someone you know was sexually assaulted, they may experience a wide range of emotional reactions. For some, the emotional impact of sexual assault can be immediate and short-term. For others, the effects can be long-lasting. Your friend may find it helpful to talk about these feelings.

How You Can Support Your Friend

Listen. Your friend has chosen to speak with you which demonstrates their respect and trust in you. It is important to know that not all victims choose to speak about their experiences immediately after a rape, it might be years later. Be a good listener, act empathetically, but let your friend talk. Do not push for details.

Believe them. Survivors need to validate their experience. Be sure your friend knows that you support them.

Don’t blame the survivor. Sexual assault is an act of domination and humiliation. No one deserves to be raped. Survivors often blame themselves, it may help if you reinforce that the assault was not their fault.

Allow the survivor to control the situation. Let your friend determine the pace of healing. Help your friend understand the options available, and encourage your friend to keep her or his options open. Provide a listening ear and support in the situation, however be cautious not to take control. Act as a facilitator for whatever decisions that they choose to take.

Encourage the survivor to get medical attention as soon as possible. All of the emergency rooms in Indianapolis have a Center of Hope which provides services at no-cost by a specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible will allow the survivor to have options for their health and more control if they choose to proceed with legal action against the perpetrator. The Centers of Hope at St. Vincent and IU-Methodist are recommended due to close proximity to Butler University.

Don’t be afraid to ask for outside help. Your friend may need medical attention or counseling. Offer to help your friend with access to a victim advocate, Counseling Services or other support either on campus or within the community. Regardless of how much time has passed since the assault, the survivor can receive counseling and referrals from Counseling Services.

How You Can Take Care of Yourself

Understand your own feelings yet, attempt to control your own emotions. You may also feel confused, hurt, angry or frightened. Such feelings are normal. Please keep in mind your reaction to the situation as well; do not attempt to approach the perpetrator on your own. Do not try to retaliate against the perpetrator either. It is important that you act in a way that is respectful of the survivor’s wishes.

Don’t be afraid to ask for outside help. Find someone other than the survivor to talk with about your feelings. Speaking with someone in Counseling Services or another individual will assist you in managing your own emotions. Counseling is available for you in Counseling Services, located in the Health and Recreation Complex.

Know and respect your own limits. There is only so much you can do to help your friend. You can provide support, compassion, and companionship when your friend wants it, but try not to make commitments that you can’t fulfill.

Remember that it was not your fault. You may feel guilty, thinking that somehow you could have prevented your friend’s sexual assault. Don’t forget that sexual assault is a violent crime and you are not responsible for someone else’s actions.

Realize that coping with sexual assault is a long-term process. The impact of rape can take months or years to surface, it does not just disappear with time. Make sure to give yourself and your friend ample time to heal. Be patient with one another.

All Butler employees have an important role to play in creating an environment that ensures everyone is able to fully participate in and benefit from the opportunities available at Butler University, regardless of their sex or gender.

Most University employees, including student employees, also have an obligation to report to the University when they are made aware of an incident of sexual misconduct. If a responsible employee receives information about an incident of sexual misconduct, they must report the incident to the University as soon as possible.

Under Title IX, responsible employees include those who:

Have the authority to take action or redress sexual misconduct
Have a duty to report sexual misconduct to appropriate school officials, or
A student could reasonably believe has this authority or duty

Responsible employees at Butler include:

Those who offer course instruction, whether in person or online, including full-time and part-time faculty, adjuncts, and Teaching Assistants
Advisors
Coaches and athletics staff who interact with students
Student Affairs staff members, except those in Counseling and Consultation Services and Health Services and the Director of Student Advocacy
Residence Life staff members, including Resident Assistants
Those who work in offices or areas that interface with students

Office of Student Advocacy

Location: Atherton Union 316
Cell Phone: 317-910-5572
Office Phone: 317-940-2047
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm
After Hours Assistance: The Victim Advocate phone number can be called any time. During non-business hours, callers will receive a message listing two resources that are available 24/7: the confidential Julian Center Crisis Line (317-920-9320) or Butler University Police Department (317-940-9396).

Counseling & Consultation Services

Location: Health & Recreation Complex 120
Office Phone: 317-940-9385
Hours: Monda, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Tuesday and Wednesday, 8:00 AM–6:00 PM; Thursday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM; Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM

Health Services

Location: Health & Recreation Complex 110
Office Phone: 317-940-9385
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm

The Compass Center

Location: Blue House, 4615 Sunset Ave
Office Phone: 317-940-8252
Hours: conversations are best made by appointment, email Rev. Meyers (dgmyers@butler.edu)
Note: only ordained clergy members are confidential within The Compass Center

Centers of Hope

Located in Indianapolis-area hospitals and staffed by Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), Centers of Hope provide free, confidential medical assistance and evidence collection for those who have experienced sexual and/or intimate partner violence.

The locations closest to Butler University are:

St. Vincent Hospital
2001 W. 86th Street
317-338-3756
IU Methodist Hospital
1701 N. Senate Avenue
317-962-4673
Eskenazi Hospital
720 Eskenazi Avenue
317-880-8006

The Julian Center

The Julian Center is one of two Rape Crisis Centers in Marion County. Their primary focus is to assist those who have experienced sexual violence, intimate partner violence, and stalking through collaborative advocacy and support to achieve long-term safety, stability and self-sufficiency.

Location: 2011 N. Meridian Street
24-Hour Crisis Line: 317-920-9320

The Julian Center provides the following free and confidential services:

Collaborative Advocacy—meet with a trained and dedicated advocate
Trauma Counseling
Advocate-Led Support Groups
Art Therapy
Legal Services Coordination (non-criminal legal issues)
Self-Sufficiency Services
Case Management

Firefly Children & Family Alliance

Firefly Children & Family Alliance is a local agency providing a wide range of services and support.

Location: Multiple Locations
Phone: 317-634-5050 (Ask to speak with a sexual assault advocate)

They provide the following free and confidential services to those who have experienced sexual violence:

Phone and face-to-face advocacy
Emotional support
Assistance with protective orders
Court advocacy
Guidance through the criminal justice system
Safety planning
Community resource referrals
Support for loved ones

Advocates provide support to all survivors, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, age, or disability. Advocates are trained to work with the LGBTQ+ community and male survivors. Services can also be provided in Spanish.

Prevail Inc.

Located just north of Indianapolis in Hamilton County, Prevail provides free, confidential advocacy and support services to those who have experienced sexual and/or intimate partner violence.

Location: 1100 S. 9th Street, Noblesville
Phone: 317-773-6942
24-Hour Crisis Line: 317-776-3472

Services include: