Victim Assistance Team

The Victim Assistance Team (VAT) is here to assist Colorado State University students who have been sexually assaulted on or off campus; and staff, faculty, or visitors who have been sexually assaulted on campus. Trained Victim Advocates are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide emotional support and information if you have been sexually violated.

Definition of Sexual Assault

What Does the Victim Assistance Team Do?

Who are the Advocates?

Office or Agency Contact Information

Sexual Assault: Any unwanted sexual contact. Including but not limited to: forced sexual penetration of any orifice (rape), unwanted touching of the breasts, buttocks, or genitalia, etc.

What Does the Victim Assistance Team Do?

• Advocates assist female and male victims, and any friends or family to cope with the physical, psychological, and legal aftermath resulting from a sexual assault.
• Trained Victim Advocates are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to provide emotional support and information to someone who has been sexually violated.
• Advocates can provide information about the victim's choices for getting medical care. Advocates can meet with a student in a residence hall room, at a designated spot on campus, or another agreed upon location.
• Advocates can also accompany a victim to the hospital or Women's Clinic (or Men's Clinic) at Hartshorn Health Center if she or he would like.
• They can explain the process of reporting the assault to the police and can go with the victim to the police station if she or he decides to file a report. They can also let the victim know about the University's Judicial Affairs system if the perpetrator is a student.
• Calling for an advocate does not obligate reporting anything to the police, except when there is a significant public safety concern.

  Who are the Advocates?
  
  Advocates are volunteers (students, staff, and faculty) who complete an extensive training program. They understand the complexity of the aftermath of sexual assault and can assist students in making decisions and obtaining resources. They are educated about legal and medical systems, psychological ramifications of sexual assault, and can provide choices and information about medical care. Advocates can provide emotional support as the victim seeks resources. The victim remains in charge of making the decisions, unless there is a significant public safety concern.
  
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Office or Agency Contact Information	Hours	Phone #
Victim Assistance Team - Ask to Speak with An Advocate	24 hours	491-7111
Victim Assistance Team Info Women's Programs and Studies	Business hours	491-6384
CSU Police Department From On-Campus	24 hours	911
CSU Police Department From Off-Campus	24 hours	491-7111
Women's Clinic at Hartshorn Health Services	Business hours	491-1754
Poudre Valley Hospital Emergency Room	24 hours	495-8020
University Counseling Center	Business hours	491-6053
CSU Police Department -Non-Emergency	24 hours	491-6425
Fort Collins Police Department- if incident occurred off-campus	24 hours	221-6540
Fort Collins TTY (Deaf Accessibility Line) Emergency	24 hours	221-3490
Larimer County Sheriff's Department - if incident occurred in Larimer County, outside of Fort Collins city limits	24 hours	498-5141

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