Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion : WCSU Campus Response & Resource Team (“CaRRT”)

Incident(s)

Last updated: October 29, 2021

What can you do if an incident happens?

After any incident, you may feel confused, fearful, guilty, ashamed, or isolated. It’s important to talk with someone about these feelings. Western Connecticut State University (“WCSU” or “University”) has a Campus Resource Team (CaRRT) who are professional staff members trained and prepared to help. The University will be particularly sensitive to meeting the needs of each individual.

Find a safe place and call someone you trust

The police will help you whether or not you choose to prosecute the assailant. For an incident on campus, call the WCSU Police Department (203) 837-9300. For an off-campus incident, you may call WCSU Police or the local police department (203) 797-461) or 911.
Call the Women’s Center 24-Hour Hotlines:

  • Sexual Assault: (203) 731-5204
  • Domestic Violence: (203) 731-5206
  • Call a friend, family member, someone whom you trust, or contact a member of CaRRT to help you through this process.

Get medical attention if needed

It is important that you seek medical attention immediately to assess and treat physical injuries you may have sustained, and other health related risks.

Try to preserve all physical evidence of the assault

If a sexual assault has occurred, some forensic evidence should be collected within 24 to 72 hours following the assault.

  • Do not drink, bathe, douche, brush your teeth, change your clothes, or comb your hair. It’s only natural to want to do these things, but you may be destroying evidence that could be helpful in an investigation. In the course of your medical examination, this evidence will be collected by a specially trained nurse. If changing clothes is necessary, clothing worn during the assault should be placed in a paper bag.
  • Later Medical Evaluation: While immediate medical attention is preferred, delayed medical evaluation is strongly recommended.

The WCSU Office of Health Services provides quality and preventive health care in a culturally diverse context. Health Services strives to promote health awareness for our students and academic community through educational programs, counseling, and promoting healthy behaviors that facilitate academic success..

Seek emotional care

After any such incident, it may be beneficial to seek professional counseling in order to explore and address the impact of such an occurrence on your life.  Two important resources are the WCSU Office of Counseling Services and the (on-campus) Women’s Center of Greater Danbury.

The WCSU Office of Counseling Services provides free and confidential services to students. The center is staffed with professionals trained to provide support and counseling to those who have experienced sexual assault, sexual harassment, stalking and intimate partner violence.  Counseling Services can also provide referrals to other local agencies. To make an appointment, call 203-837-8690.

The Center for Empowerment and Education (formerly the Women’s Center of Greater Danbury) operates two 24-hour confidential hotlines (203-731-5204) for those who have experienced sexual assault and (203-731-5206) for those who have experienced intimate partner violence. The Center for Empowerment and Education has an office on the WCSU campus in Higgins Annex 105C for counseling (203-837-3939). Crisis intervention and advocacy is available; this would include accompanying a victim to police, hospital, and judicial proceedings.  All services are free and confidential.