• 80% of rape victims know their attacker
• No matter how nice a person seems, be wary of spending time alone with him until you get to know him/her better. Group dates have become the collegiate standard, anyway. Also remember that most college students who are raped know their rapist.
• You can always say no, even if you have had sex with the guy before.
• Four out of five rapists are unarmed. Learn how to fight back.
• Learn about the effects of alcohol and date rape drugs.

Know Your Limits

• While CNU is a dry campus, many students will still choose to drink. Not all college students make this choice, but many will. Did you know that 75% of male date rapists and 55% of female date rape survivors had been drinking or using drugs?
• Men: if a woman is drunk or high, do not get sexual with her. Neither “I was drunk” nor "she was drunk" is going to hold up as a defense in court.
• Women: don't try to drink like the guys. A 140 pound woman has less water in her body than a 140 pound man, which means a woman's blood alcohol level rises faster and takes longer to leave the body. In short, women get drunk faster and stay drunk longer than men, even if they're the same size. If you're small, you're even more vulnerable to alcohol's effects.
• Know how much alcohol is in your drink so that you don't overdo it.
• If you don't want to drink, but you want to look like you're drinking, carrying around the same drink all night does work.

Spiked Drinks Do Happen

Be aware of the risk of having someone mess with your drink. As much as you may want to believe that you hang out with people that wouldn't do such a thing, it is a danger. Remember, 90% of all rapes are planned! Preventative measures include:

• If you drink, drink only out of containers you open yourself. Get one of those bottle-opener key chains, and hang onto your drink at all times.
• Learn what to look out for by reviewing the Drug section. Here you can find description of common drugs and how to recognize its affects.
• Think you or a friend may have been given a spiked drink? Get somewhere safe and call the hospital immediately. You can be tested for substances such as roofies for the next 48 hours.

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Know How To Defend Yourself

It may or may not keep you from getting raped, but there's always something you can do to defend yourself, and it's usually worth it to try.

• Defensive resistance can work in a lot of situations. Not all self-defense has to involve physically attacking the person. Sometimes all you need to do is run, or yell “STOP,” “NO,” or “GET BACK.” Attract attention and discourage the attacker. Follow your instincts, even if you're afraid it'll make you look paranoid or rude. If a situation seems wrong, it probably is.
• Take a self-defense class. The best option is a practical, street-level self-defense, not martial arts. If you can't find any in your area, ask around: the Office of Career and Counseling, Office of Student Life, University Police, even female trainers or coaches might have some ideas on where you can find a class. The University Police offer the RAD (Rape Aggression Defense) class. Contact University Police to participate.
• If possible, take a women-only class, since women are attacked differently than men.
• Your elbows, knees, feet, and even your head, can be effective weapons against an attacker's vulnerable and sensitive targets (i.e. groin, shin, top of foot, nose, etc). A self defense program such as RAD can help prepare you.
• There could be some situations when…
  • Physical defense may not be possible or practical without risk of serious injury (i.e. when confronted by an attacker with a knife or a gun). The decision to resist can only be made but the intended victim.
  • Compliance is an option when your life is in immediate jeopardy, but never give up looking for the opportunity to escape and survive.
• There are places now where you can get pepper spray key chains. If you use pepper spray or Mace, make sure you know how to properly use it and that it is easily accessible at all times. It's no use to you if it's at the bottom of your backpack, and it can blind you instead of the attacker if you point it the wrong way. Also, be aware that pepper spray is less effective against an attacker who is drunk or wearing glasses, and unless you spray directly in his eyes, it can take up to a minute to work. If you decide to carry Mace or pepper spray don't rely on it as your sole means of defense.
• It's also useful to know that any solid object can be turned into a weapon in an emergency. Grab your umbrella with both hands and jab. Keys, pens, pencils, credit card, nail file, hair brush, etc. can be used against an attacker's vulnerable targets.