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Office of Equal Opportunity and Access

Resources-Get Help Now

If you need immediate help or find yourself in an emergency situation, please call 9-1-1 to be connected with local law enforcement and medical services. Additional resources can be found on our Quick Reference Guide-ISU Campus or the Quick Reference Guide-Springfield Campus.

If you or someone you know has experienced an incident of sexual assault/misconduct, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking, you are encouraged to get help regardless of when the incident occurred. Through this page you can navigate to information on medical support, confidential counseling, and supportive measures available both on-campus and in the local community. Most of the listed resources are available at no-cost. All of the resources are available even if you choose not to file a report with law enforcement or a formal complaint with the University. Individuals who have experienced sexual violence are encouraged to seek medical attention and consider reporting to police and/or University officials.

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Medical Support

You are encouraged to seek medical and follow-up care even if you choose not to report the incident to law enforcement or the University. Seek medical attention from a hospital, Student Health Services, or another health care provider. Student Health Services cannot complete a sexual assault evidence collection kit (rape kit). The sexual assault evidence collection process can be completed, at no charge, by visiting any hospital emergency room. Even if you choose not to complete the sexual assault evidence collection exam, Student Health Services and local hospital emergency rooms can offer other forms of medical assistance including sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing and emergency contraception. At Carle BroMenn Medical Center you will be provided with emergency contraception, and at OSF St. Joseph Medical Center you will be provided with a prescription for emergency contraception.

Individuals can contact Stepping Stones (309-556-7000), a community provider of free, confidential sexual assault services to request support from a medical advocate during the sexual assault evidence collection process at the hospital. Countering Domestic Violence (309-827-7070) can also offer medical support and advocacy in response to incidents of dating violence, domestic violence, and/or stalking.

Quick Reference Guide

Whether an incident occurred recently or in the past, help is still available. The resource Quick Reference Guide is a list of campus and community resources in Bloomington/Normal that may be useful. Students attending classes at our Springfield campus may also find the Springfield Quick Reference Guide helpful. Many of the resources listed are available at no-cost, and all of the resources are available even if an individual chooses not to report an incident to law enforcement or the University.

Evidence Preservation

Even if you choose not to file a criminal report or report the incident to the University, you are encouraged to take steps to preserve evidence. This will ensure that evidence is available if you later decide to proceed with a criminal or University investigation.

  • Do not shower, bathe, douche, and/or brush your teeth or hair before a sexual assault evidence exam (Note: You can still have an exam performed if you have done these things).
  • Seek treatment at a local hospital emergency room as soon as possible.
  • Immediately notify medical staff if you believe drugs or alcohol were involved. Medical staff are specially trained to collect evidence and perform tests, including tests that can provide important evidence to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved.
  • Save all the clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault in a paper bag.
  • Make every effort to save anything that might contain DNA. Do not clean up the crime scene or move anything the assailant may have touched.
  • Write down as much as you can remember about the circumstances, including a description of the assailant. If you have a picture of the assailant, prepare to give it to the police.
  • Save any electronic communications with the assailant (voicemails, emails, text messages, or social media messages)