Mission Statement
Volunteering
Resources
Confidentiality Policy
MSU Services
More on Sexual Assault & Domestic Violence

Mission Statement

The Montana State University VOICE Center is committed to the belief that all people have the right to live free from violence and the fear of violence. We recognize that sexual and domestic violence are not isolated incidents, but rather are the expression of a pervasive attitude in which violence and control are acted out in a gendered and sexual manner. We believe that sexual violence can best be addressed through social action, education, and advocacy. The VOICE Center is formed to:

• Provide a safe, highly confidential place on campus for survivors of sexual and domestic violence, offering support, advocacy, and resources;

• Break the silence and raise consciousness surrounding sexual and domestic violence. Silence adds to a survivor's shame and delays recovering and healing;

• Help restore personal power and dignity to survivors of sexual and domestic violence by providing choices and decision-making opportunities;

• Identify and reduce the existence of sexual and domestic violence at Montana State University, and provide education and information to all members of the Montana State University community on issues of sexual assault and relationship violence.

• Ensure effective communication between the VOICE Center and other people who are concerned about sexual and domestic violence.

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Volunteer Options

The VOICE Center is a peer-based program that provides education and advocacy on issues of sexual and domestic violence in the MSU community. We have two types of volunteers: Advocates and Educators. Following is a description of each type of position.

Peer Advocates

What is a Peer Advocate?

Peer Advocates are student volunteers who are trained to provide crisis intervention and support services to survivors of sexual and domestic violence. Services that Peer Advocates provide include: answering the crisis line; meeting with survivors one on one; accompanying survivors in accessing medial, legal, and other services; talking with friends and family members of survivors about sexual violence. All Peer Advocates are women; we encourage men who would like to be part of the program to consider becoming a Peer Educator, or to talk to the VOICE Center Coordinator about other ways for men to be involved the program.

What will the Peer Advocate Training involve?

The 32-hour training session, co-facilitated by the Battered Women's Network, will include education in the following areas:

• Theory on violence against women

• Crisis counseling skills

• Peer Counseling skills

• Intimate Abuse/Dating Violence/Domestic Violence

• Sexual Assault/Date Rape/Acquaintance Rape

• Advocacy Skills

• Law Enforcement & Medical Concerns for Survivors

How would I benefit from being a Peer Advocate?

• Actively work with concerned individuals making positive change on the MSU campus.

• Obtain practical experience in crisis intervention and advocacy on issues of sexual and domestic violence.

• Gain knowledge on issues of sexual violence

• Opportunity for personal development and growth.

• Earn college credit.

• Earn letters of recommendation.

Requirements to become a Peer Advocate with the VOICE Center:

• Complete the application process (which includes a written application and an interview).

• Attend 32-hour training session.

• Commit to staffing one shift per week.

• Commit to working with the VOICE program for a minimum of one year.

• Have a non-judgmental and non-victim blaming approach to sexual and domestic violence.

Peer Educators

What is a Peer Educator?

Students Against Sexual Assault (SASA) functions as the outreach component of the VOICE Center. Peer Educators make presentations on sexual assault and domestic violence awareness, safety, and resources in the dorms, Greek houses, and to student groups. Formats include skits, video, and group discussion.

SASA also organizes sexual and domestic violence awareness activities on campus. Examples of those activities include: Sexual Assault Awareness Week; V-Day, Stop the Violence; Take Back the Night March.

Both men and women are involved with SASA and the Peer Educator program.

How Would I Benefit From Being a Peer Educator?

Actively work with concerned individuals to make positive change on the MSU-Bozeman campus. Gain volunteer experience Gain knowledge on issues of sexual and domestic violence Practice group facilitation skills Earn letters of recommendation

Requirements to become a Peer Educator with the VOICE Program:

• Attend training sessions

• Attend SASA meetings

• Willingness and desire to facilitate open discussion on sexual and domestic violence

• One year commitment to the program

• Non-judgmental and non-victim blaming approach to sexual and domestic violence

NOTE: Students may be involved with SASA's awareness activities without becoming a Peer Educator (and thus not going through training or making a one year commitment). To hear more about this possibility, call the VOICE office at 994-7142.

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Resources

The VOICE Center, 994-7069 (24-hour line)
Provides free and confidential services and information for people affected by sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking, including friends and family of survivors. Can assist with reporting, referrals, academic concerns, protective orders, and medical advocacy. Advocates are available 24-hours a day during the regular academic semester. The VOICE Center is located in 14 Hamilton Hall and serves male and female students, staff, and faculty.
994-7142 (office line), 994-5682 (outreach coordinator)

MSU Police, 994-2121
Responds to crimes that occur on MSU property. This is a 24-hour number.

MSU Student Health Service, 994-2311
Provides medical services for MSU students. Student Health Service is open Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

MSU Counseling & Psychological Services, 994-4531
Provides free counseling for MSU students.

Associated Students Legal Services, 994-2935
Can provide legal representation, at minimum charge, to MSU students. Legal Services cannot represent students in criminal cases.

MSU Dean of Students, 994-2826
Can assist students with academic and financial aid issues that occur as the result of an incident of sexual assault, stalking, or domestic violence. The Dean of Students adjudicates violations of the Student Conduct Code. VOICE Center advocates can help you through this process if you are considering this option.  

Bozeman Police, 911 or 582-2000
Responds to crimes that occur in Bozeman.  

Gallatin County Sheriff, 911 or 582-2100
Responds to crimes that occur in Gallatin County but outside Bozeman city limits.  

Sexual Assault Counseling Center, 586-3333
Housed in the Help Center, the Sexual Assault Counseling Center provides 24-hour crisis counseling, outreach, legal, personal, medical advocacy and short/long term trauma recovery counseling for survivors of sexual assault and their significant others. Services are free and confidential.

The Network Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse, 586-4111
The Network provides a variety of services, including a 24-hour crisis line and emergency shelter. Professional staff and trained volunteers assist victims of domestic violence in meeting immediate and long-term needs, as well as provide information, referrals, crisis intervention, and support. Services are free and confidential.

The Network’s Legal Advocacy Office, 582-2038
The Legal Advocate offers services at no cost to victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking. The assistance can include applications for orders of protection and other civil court procedures.

Gallatin County Victim Assistance Program, 582-2075 or 582-2076
The Victim Assistance Program assists victims of violent crime with the criminal justice process in the City of Bozeman and Gallatin County. Services include crisis counseling, criminal justice support and advocacy, assistance with filing for crime victim compensation, and information and referral to community services.

To report a crime anonymously on the MSU campus, e-mail the Silent Witness Program: switness@montana.edu.
If you have questions, a VOICE Advocate can answer questions about this option.

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Anonymity & Confidentiality at the VOICE Center

Your communications with the VOICE Center are protected by state law and are confidential no one outside of the VOICE Center will have access to information about your communications with the Center without your consent, except as described in "Exceptions to Confidentiality." Within the VOICE Center, only professional staff, supervisors, graduate interns, and peer Advocates have access to your records, and only on a need-to-know basis. Law enforcement, school administration or faculty, Student Health Service staff not affiliated with the VOICE Center, or family members will not be contacted by the VOICE Center unless you request us to do so. In addition, you have the option of being anonymous in your interactions with the VOICE Center if you prefer.

Does the VOICE Center Keep Records?

Whether you choose to be anonymous or to give your name, the VOICE Center does document all client interactions. We keep records for gathering statistics, to monitor the quality of our services, and to provide documentation to clients of their interactions with the VOICE Center when requested.

Are There Exceptions to Confidentiality?

Exceptions to confidentiality include legally required reports in cases of child or elder abuse and threats of imminent harm to self or others, in circumstances detailed in Montana's child/elder abuse reporting laws, mental health law, and duty to warn law. Because the details of these statutes are complex, advocates and staff are required to discuss such client disclosures immediately with VOICE Center supervisors. If specific legal conditions are found to have been met, notification of authorities is mandated by state law.

An additional exception to confidentiality is if the VOICE Center receives a subpoena or court order to disclose confidential information. In such circumstances, the University has stated its commitment to protect VOICE Center records and is prepared to oppose any subpoenas for which the VOICE Center does not have the client's authorization for release of the information. Montana law presently offers substantial protection from disclosure of counseling records without the client's consent in instances of sexual assault, even in court cases. However, it is possible that, despite the University's efforts, a court could mandate the release of the records. If all efforts to protect the records fail, the VOICE Center would comply with the order at that point.

What's the Difference Between Anonymity & Confidentiality?

To be anonymous at the VOICE Center means that you do not give your name to the VOICE Center Advocate with whom you speak , (or you use a pseudonym) and your name will not appear on any records of your interactions with the VOICE Center. Confidentiality means that you inform the Advocate of your name, and all records of your interactions with the VOICE Center will have your name on them. It is possible to switch from anonymous to confidential records; however, it is not possible to switch from being confidential to being anonymous.

Which Option Should I Choose?

There are many things to consider in making the decision whether to be anonymous or confidential at the VOICE Center. Such considerations may include the potential for you to be involved in court cases, your desire for services other than peer counseling, and any needs for documentation of your interaction with the VOICE Center.

Either option may have potential advantages and disadvantages for you. If you choose to be anonymous, it is unlikely that the records of your interactions with the VOICE Center would be appealed if you were involved in legal proceedings. However, if you need a copy of records for some reason, it is virtually impossible for the VOICE Center to know which of the anonymous records we have are about you.

If you are anonymous, the services available to you through the VOICE Center are limited to peer counseling and information. All other services (advocacy within legal and university system, letters to professors or others) would require that the VOICE Center know your name. However, if you are anonymous at the VOICE Center, you can always decide to give your name later if you wish to receive these other services.

If you choose to give your name, your records will remain strictly confidential, all the VOICE Center services are available to you, and the records of your interactions with the VOICE Center will be retrievable if you ever need a copy for yourself or others for documentation. However, because the records are retrievable, they may become subject to a court order to release them if you are involved in a court case. (See "Exceptions to Confidentiality).

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Sexual Assault Services at MSU

Montana State University encourages sexual assault survivors to report all assaults to the police.

It is important for the survivor to make the decisions about the kind of service she wants. However, timing is an important factor in many of these decisions and those assisting an assault survivor should be familiar with these timing issues in order to provide accurate information to survivors. Some things a survivor and her/his advocate should be concerned about include:

1. Was there physical harm done in the assault and is an immediate exam necessary?

Go to either the MSU Student Health Service or the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room.

MSU Student Health Service (Phone: 994-2311)

8:00 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday

8:00 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. Saturday

(hours vary during school vacations and during the summer)

Immediate exams are available during all hours of operation. A student may request a woman examiner. During hours Monday through Friday, one should be available. However, on Saturdays, the student would be examined by the physician on-call, who may or may not be a woman.

There is no charge for the exam. There are charges for lab test and x-rays that may or may not be covered by student's insurance.

Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room (Phone: 585-1000)

Open 24 hours.

Student will see an emergency room physician. This physician may or may not be a woman. Student should expect a charge of at least $200. These charges may or may not be covered by the student's insurance. Some charges may or may not be covered if the student reports to the police (see section below).

2. Might the survivor want to report to the police/should evidence be collected?

MSU Police (Phone: 994-2121)

The MSU Police will investigate any assault that occurs on campus property.

Bozeman Police Department/Gallatin County Sheriff (Phone: 911)

Survivors should understand that collecting evidence will lead to a police report. An investigation, including police interviews with the survivor and the assailant, will occur if the survivor requests that the evidence be collected. The survivor may decide later not to participate in the prosecution; however the survivor should be made aware of the fact that the police will be called if s/he requests that evidence be collected (see question 3).

If the survivor chooses to report to the police, evidence (the rape kit) will need to be collected and processed according to a prescribed forensic protocol. This examination is best done as soon as possible (within 72 hours of the assault). Evidence is best collected if the survivor does not shower or change clothes prior to the exam.

Collection of evidence (rape kit) can occur either at MSU Student Health Service or the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital Emergency Room. This process involves collection of vaginal and (possibly) rectal secretions, saliva, pubic and head hair, and blood. If the survivor is still wearing the same clothing that s/he wore at the time of the assault, that will be collected. Student Health Service has extra clothes for the survivor to wear home after hers/his are collected. Survivors who go to Bozeman Deaconess may want to bring a set of clothes to change into after the exam.

There are no charges for collection of evidence at either MSU Student Health Service or Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. NOTE: There may be charges for lab work or other services not related to evidence collection.

3. What is the difference between reporting and pressing charges?

Reporting must occur within five years of the incident, and entails retelling the events of the crime to law enforcement. If the victim reports from the scene of the crime, officers will be dispatched immediately. These officers can take the victim to a hospital to have the post-rape exam. If the victim wants to wait, s/he can report during office hours. The officers who are immediately dispatched will want to know basic information about the assault: what happened, where did it happen, and who did it, if the survivor knows. They may need to go to the scene of the crime to collect evidence, or they may need to contact the perpetrator. The survivor does not need to describe the event in detail to these officers.

A detective will also be dispatched to conduct a longer interview with the survivor. In this interview, the victim will be asked to describe the assault in detail. The detective may want to conduct the longer interview right away, but the victim can say no if s/he does not feel up to it (this may be particularly difficult for victims who have just undergone the rape kit, or who are reporting immediately after an assault) and arrange a different date for the interview. The survivor should know that if s/he reports, s/he will have to tell her/his story at least twice to the police and at least once in the courtroom; s/he may also have to tell the story to prosecuting and defense attorneys.

Filing charges is the process in which the prosecution attempts to bring the perpetrator to trial. The survivor should be aware of the fact that once s/he reports and an investigation is underway, the case is no longer in her/his hands. The perpetrator has broken Montana law and the county of Gallatin is actually prosecuting him or her. Often, a victim will report her or his case only to find that the city or county attorneys decide that there is not enough evidence to take it to court. The decision whether or not to press charges is always the county attorney's, not the victim's. Also, the survivor should be aware that s/he is a key witness in the prosecuting attorney's case, and is therefore expected to testify. After an initial investigation, the survivor may decide not to participate in the investigation; however, without the survivor's testimony, prosecutors often feel they have no case, and thus do not press charges. A victim who files charges should be aware that many sexual assault and rape cases are hard to prove in the court system and often punishment is quite lenient for the convicted.

If the perpetrator or victim is a student, the Dean of Students can assist with university disciplinary action. MSU Campus police will notify the Dean of Students Office in cases that they investigate.

4. Does the survivor want to pursue the University's disciplinary process with respect to the alleged assailant?

Dean of Students Office (located in the Strand Union Building, phone: 994-2828)

In addition to discussing university disciplinary procedures, the Dean of Students office can provide the following services to the survivor: assistance with residence hall changes; assistance with classroom changes; safety issues; referrals to appropriate agencies; withdrawal from classes and incomplete grades.

5. Does the survivor want to pursue residence hall changes (only applies to students living on campus)?

Dean of Students (Phone: 994-2828)

Residence Life (Phone: 994-2661)

The Dean of Students Office can provide assistance in this process, as can the Director of Residence Life.

6. Is there a chance of pregnancy?

The "morning after" pill is one method of avoiding pregnancy and is most effective when taken within 24 hours after the act of unprotected intercourse; it may be considered up to 72 hours after intercourse. Certain medical conditions are prohibitive to taking the "morning after" pill; the survivor can discuss options with the health care provider either at Student Health Service or the hospital. There will be a charge for the medication at both locations.

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Return to regular view	Text-only	Updated: 7/4/2006