Resources

Explore a wide range of support services available to all members of the BU community.

Confidential Resources

Speak privately with professionals who are not required to report your concerns to the BU Title IX team. These services are available at no cost to you.

Find a Confidential Resource

BU Title IX Team

Supporting a safe, respectful campus. Report concerns and explore your rights and options at BU.

Contact a Deputy

Mandated Reporters

BU Employees (except those who are Confidential Resources) are Mandated Reporters. This means they must report any incidents of Prohibited Behavior to the EOO.

Your Role as a Mandated Reporter

Designated Advisors

Parties have a right to designate an advisor of their choice.

Learn More

CARE Team

This team helps identify, assess, and monitor concerning behavior to intervene before a crisis.

Learn More

FAQs

Find answers to Frequently Asked Questions

What should I do if I, or a friend, have been sexually assaulted?

Your safety is important. Get to a safe place away from the assailant—a friend’s room, your room, or a public place—and call for help. Once you are safe, consider the following options:

Call a 24/7 hotline

These hotlines provide rapid, confidential, compassionate counseling and assistance.

Survivor Advocacy, Response & Prevention Center at 617-353-7277 (for students only)

Boston Area Rape Crisis Center at 800-841-8371

Seek medical attention

Medical attention may be necessary to treat the full extent of any injury or trauma and to consider the possibility of sexually transmitted diseases or pregnancy. In addition, a medical exam may be necessary to properly preserve evidence in case you decide to prosecute.

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has a variety of resources, including specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, who can collect evidence and prescribe needed treatment and/or medications.

The University’s Student Health Services staff can provide a medical examination and consultation, test for pregnancy and/or sexually transmitted diseases, and later follow up, as needed. Forensic evidence cannot be collected by SHS.

Contact law enforcement

You can call the Boston University Police Department 24/7 at 617-353-2121 if you are concerned about your safety or to report a crime to be investigated.

You can call 911 or other local authorities, including the Boston Police Department, the Boston Police Sexual Assault Unit (617-343-4400), or Brookline Police Department, for assistance or to report a crime.

Report the assault

If your assailant is a member of the BU community, you can report the assault to the University’s Title IX coordinator (617-358-1796) who will investigate the incident. If your assailant is a BU student, he or she may be sanctioned under the Code of Student Responsibilities under the University’s policy on Sexual Misconduct and the Judicial Process.

What should I do about preserving evidence of a sexual assault?

If you believe you have been sexually assaulted, you should go to the emergency room before you wash yourself or your clothing. Do not shower, bathe, douche, or brush your teeth before seeking medical attention. If you have changed your clothes since the assault, bring the clothing you had on with you in a paper bag or clean towel or sheet (plastic bags or containers may render evidence useless). Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center has Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners who can collect evidence.

I hear a lot about Title IX. What about Title VI and Title VII?

Boston University’s policies prohibit all forms of discrimination, including those outlined in Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. If you think you may have experienced discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin or any other status protected by the Equal Opportunity and Title IX Policy, please submit an incident report using the Incident Report Form – Equal Opportunity Office.