Welcome to RAW 11: Rape Awareness Week 2011.

The RAW campaign seeks to...
> Raise students’ awareness of rape & sexual assault
> Offer information about victim support
> Give safety tips which are helpful in the bubble and beyond
> Challenge traditional attitudes towards rape

Awareness - did you know...
1 in 7 women students in the UK have been a victim of sexual assault whilst at University or College.
In 60% of these cases the perpetrator was also a student. The majority of perpetrators of stalking, sexual assault and physical violence were known to the victim.
Only 10% of women students who have been seriously sexually assaulted have reported it to the police.
Rape is a very distressing experience which can cause long lasting physical and emotional damage.
Rape is not about sexual satisfaction but about control and domination.

Statistics courtesy of the Hidden Marks report from the NUS (2010)

Changing Attitudes - the facts about rape

click here to see why they need to change

> Nobody ever asks to be raped. Just because someone is wearing a short skirt or a low cut top this does not mean "she was asking for it".This may sounds obvious - and yet 28% of people questioned in the Wake up to Rape Report  feel that a person should take responsibility for being raped when they dress provocatively.
> Men are victims of sexual assault too.
> The traditional image of rape is a stranger in a dark alley - this is untrue. Most sexual assaults are by someone you know.
> Societal attitudes limit justice for victims and harm their healing.

During RAW 10 we will be putting up this is not an invitation to rape me posters in the union and local bars to try and draw attention to the fact that, there is never an invitation to rape.

Support
The university has support channels available for students who have experienced sexual violence or rape.
Student Services can be contacted through ASC during the day 462020 and out of hours 476161 or 0 from an internal phone. Email theasc@st-andrews.ac.uk.
Nightline is a confidential and anonymous listening and information service, open every night that halls are open from 8pm-7am at 46(226) or nightline@st-andrews.ac.uk.

There are also a number of national organizations who work to provide support:
Fife Rape and Sexual Assault Centre- 01592 642336 or info@frasac.org.uk
The Rape Crisis Helpline - 08088 01 02 03
For more information on the way in which victims can be affected by rape see Student Services “Coping with rape and sexual assault”.

Staying Safe in St Andrews
We are lucky to be living in the bubble which is one of the safest University towns in the UK. However, this does not mean that learning how to protect yourself now isn't important.

Top tips
This may sound like stating the obvious but it never does any harm to be reminded...

ALWAYS try and be aware of your surroundings
ALWAYS walk home with a friend in well lit areas
ALWAYS text your friends to let them know that you have arrived home
ALWAYS shout FIRE and not HELP, it gains more response
ALWAYS carry around a personal alarm (available free from the union)
ALWAYS walk facing oncoming traffic, you need to be seen if a problem occurs
AVOID passing close to areas of concealment, bins, alleyways, etc
AVOID headphones at night, you may not hear an attacker approaching
AVOID getting too intoxicated, remain in control and aware
NEVER get in an unlicensed taxi or accept lifts from strangers
NEVER EVER leave your drink unattended

For more information on the RAW 11 campaign contact;

Rachael Everard - Equal Opportunities and Welfare Officer - re64@st-andrews.ac.uk