Relationships/Sexual Assault Resources

Sexual assault is defined as "sexual contact without consent." 

Consent is:

Freely given. Consenting is a choice you make without pressure, manipulation, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Reversible. Anyone can change their mind about what they feel like doing, anytime. Even if you’ve done it before, and even if you’re both naked in bed.

Informed. You can only consent to something if you have the full story. For example, if someone says they’ll use a condom and then they don’t, there isn’t full consent.

Enthusiastic. When it comes to sex, you should only do stuff you WANT to do, not things that you feel you’re expected to do.

Specific. Saying yes to one thing (like going to the bedroom to make out) doesn’t mean you’ve said yes to others (like having sex).

It is important to ask for consent before going further sexually with someone - one cannot assume that their partner is "giving signals" that it's OK.

There are varying degrees of assault, but assault is still assault - consent must be given when engaging in physically intimate acts.  Click here for an infographic on sexual and relationship violence and available resources.

As a relationship progresses from the first kiss on, it's important to continue asking for permission to take the next steps that follow the first kiss.

Part of being in a successful relationship is knowing the other person's zones of comfort.

If you are a past or present survivor of sexual or interpersonal violence, you are not alone and we are here to help.  The KU Women's Center can provide a safe space, compassionate support, on-campus counseling referral, and assistance with the reporting processes. Stop by the center in the Boxwood House, call 610-683-4655, or email: womenscenter@kutztown.edu.  

In addition, the KU Women's Center works with Safe Berks to provide campus advocacy services, which are confidential.  Services include: review of all reporting options; accompaniment to the Berks County Courthouse to obtain a Protection Order, law enforcement interviews, and Title IX meetings/hearings; and referrals to other Berks County support services and resources, as needed.  

Our Safe Berks Campus Advocate is Madison Magala, who can be reached at 484-651-9377 (call or text) or email MadisonM@SafeBerks.org. 

Safe Berks also has a hotline where a certified advocate is available by telephone 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. To contact the hotline, please call 844-789-SAFE or Text SAFE BERKS to 20121.  All services provided by Safe Berks are inclusive and available to every KU student.  

Please note: a report to a Safe Berks representative does not constitute a report to the University, since these individuals are not employees of the University and, therefore, are not required to report allegations of a Title IX violation to the University’s Title IX Coordinator or any other University employee with the authority to investigate and/or redress sexual violence on campus. 

Click here for Kutztown University's Sexual Assault Policies and Resources.