By Alicia A. Caldwell
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 6, 1997

Sexual assault victims find Oasis at UA

Students who fall victim to sexual assault need not deal with the emotional fallout alone.

Organizations within the university and surrounding community can help victims deal with the physical and emotional trauma they suffered and are trying to overcome.

Oasis Center for Sexual Assault and Relationship Violence at the University of Arizona can encourage exactly that.

"We are a counseling service and advocacy center," Oasis assistant director Matt Sanders said.

Located in Room 224 of Old Main, the Oasis Center offers confidential counseling services for students who believe they were sexually assaulted or were victim of relationship violence.

Sanders added when a student seeks help from the center, counselors will give them information including:

Crisis counseling and safety planning

Legal, medical and counseling referrals

Introduction to other campus and community resources

"People feel like they are going to be pressured into a decision," Sanders said. "We want to make sure a person is safe and feels safe."

Irene Anderson, director of the Oasis Center, said all assistance is strictly confidential.

"We are here to inform a person about the various options they have," Anderson said. "It is critical that they make the decision themselves."

Oasis is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Students can also call the center and leave a voice-mail message after hours.

Sanders said counselors respond to messages promptly, and do not limit their assistance to women.

Male victims can also receive assistance and male students can receive information about date rape and steps they can take to reduce it.

A victim of an on campus sexual assault may choose to file a university complaint with the Dean of Students office, said Veda Hunn, an assistant dean of students.

Hunn said her first priority is to work with victims who allege sexual assault and provide them with everything from class withdrawal to counseling.

She added penalties for the assailant are among the toughest on campus.

"For something like sexual assault, the minimum is suspension or expulsion from the university (if found responsible)," Hunn said.

She added findings in these cases remain private because of educational privacy acts.

The results of the cases also can be used in criminal or civil litigation against the alleged assailant.

For students who do not wish to speak with Oasis or the Dean of Students office, the Tucson Rape Crisis Center has a 24-hour anonymous free hotline for sexual assault victims.

University of Arizona

Medical 621-6493

Confidential Women's Health Services 621-6512

Legal

Dean of Students office-

Code of Conduct inquiries and complaints 621-7059

Affirmative Action Office 621-9438

Counseling/Prevention

Oasis Center - confidential 626-2051

Counseling and Psychological Services 621-3334

Tucson Community

Legal

Victim Witness Advocacy Program 740-5525

Counseling 24 hrs.

Tucson Rape Crisis Center (TTY accessible)

Crisis Line & Advocacy 327-7273

Southern AZ Crisis Line 1-800-400-1001