If You've Been Sexually Assaulted

Go to a safe place and speak with someone you trust. Tell this person what happened. If there is any immediate danger, contact the campus police if you are on campus, or call 911 if you are off campus.

If you are on campus during regular business hours, you may go to the Student Health Services office or the college Mental Health and Wellness Center for support and guidance. These are both confidential resources.

You may also seek other professional support, such as counseling, victim advocacy or medical assistance. See the Title IX contacts webpage for suggested resources.

For your safety and well-being, we encourage you to seek immediate medical attention. It’s important to be examined as soon as possible, ideally within 72 hours, after a rape or sexual assault.

Specially trained nurse examiners can perform an evidentiary examination at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center (VMC). For more information about the evidentiary exam and its purpose, please contact the VMC Sexual Assault Response Team at 408.885.6466​.

If you can, try to follow these suggestions to preserve evidence

• It is recommended that you do not bathe, shower, douche, eat, drink, smoke, brush your teeth, urinate, defecate or change clothes before receiving medical attention. If you have already done any of these things, you should still seek prompt medical care, as evidence may still be recoverable. 
• Typically, if police are involved, they will obtain evidence from the scene of the incident. Try to leave things undisturbed until their arrival. They will gather bedding, linens or unlaundered clothing, and any other pertinent items that may be used for evidence. It is best to let the police secure items in evidence containers, but if you are involved in transporting items of evidence, such as when going to the hospital, secure them in a clean paper bag or clean bedsheet to avoid contamination. 
• If you have physical injuries, photograph or have them photographed, with a date stamp on the photo.
• Record the names of any witnesses and their contact information. This information may be helpful as proof of a crime, to obtain an order of protection, or to offer proof of a campus policy violation.
• Try to memorize details such as a physical description, names, license plate number or a car description. Even better, if you are able to do so, write down notes to remind yourself of details.

If you haven’t already contacted the police, consider filing a report about what happened.

• You may file a report directly with the Foothill-De Anza district police or another agency if the incident is under its jurisdiction, or the district police can assist you in reporting to the relevant agency.
• If requested, other campus officials can facilitate reporting to the police.
• Visit deanza.edu/police for information on contacting the Foothill-De Anza district police. 

The Title IX overview webpage has more information about your options under this law. If you'd like to pursue an informal complaint or a formal grievance, or simply get more information, contact the college Title IX coordinator.

The Title IX coordinator may notify the Foothill-De Anza district police about incidents of sex- or gender-based discrimination, harassment or violence. The coordinator typically will not tell police the identities of people involved, unless required under emergency circumstances or unless the person who was subject to the unwanted conduct asks for the information to be shared with police. 

Even after the immediate crisis has passed, consider seeking support from De Anza College’s Mental Health and Wellness Center or the YWCA of Silicon Valley Rape Crisis Center. 

If you obtain external orders of protection (such as a restraining order, injunction or order of protection from abuse), please notify the Foothill-De Anza district police or the campus Title IX coordinator, so those orders can be observed on campus.

You can also contact the Title IX coordinator if you need assistance with no-contact orders, other supportive measures or De Anza College policy concerns. 

The Title IX coordinator will assist, if needed, in advocating for students who wish to obtain protective or restraining orders from local authorities.