UNCW families are encouraged to get to know UNCW’s resources in regards to campus safety.
This page contains information about:
- Campus Crime Statistics & Security Report
- When Your Student is Impacted by Sexual Assault
- Resources in the Aftermath of Virginia Tech
Where is the Annual Campus Crime Report?
The UNCW Campus Crime and Security Report is published and distributed each year in compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act [20 USC 1092 (f)]. Parents are encouraged to closely review this report; you will recognize that among the predominant crimes on campus are offenses involving property theft from buildings, labeled in this report as burglaries, or regulatory involving the enforcement of alcohol and drug laws and policies. Since 2004, a number of measures have been implemented to increase safety on campus. Among the initiatives are revisions to the admissions process, expanded dissemination and marketing of information regarding safety, and additional staffing and increased response capabilities of the police department. This report can be accessed at: http://www.uncw.edu/ba/police/crime.htm
For the Parents of a Sexual Assault Victim
If your daughter or son confides in you that s/he has been sexually assaulted, you may experience a number of conflicting emotions, such as anger, guilt, self-blame, betrayal, and helplessness. As a parent, it is normal to feel any or all of these emotions at once. Your daughter or son has put a lot of trust in you to share such a sensitive experience, and perhaps without realizing it, she and he has placed a lot of responsibility on you as well.
Some common feelings you may have:
- Concern for the victim: How to help the victim deal with the trauma.
- Helplessness: Parents may wish they could have protected their child and want to fix the situation so that life can get back to normal.
- Feeling out of control: Just as the victim is feeling the effects of the loss of control in their lives, so too does the parent. The abuse/assault has changed the parent's relationship with the victim, and it is out of the parent's control to change that.
- Wanting to harm the offender: This is a natural reaction, but not a realistic one. This creates further crisis, and the child might feel the need to protect the offender (especially if the offender is known to the victim).
- Loss of intimacy/trust: Because the victim needs time to work on trust issues, the loss of trust affects any relationship in which he/she is involved.
- Guilt: Parents often feel guilty about their own feelings of anger at how the crisis is disrupting their family.
- Difficulty expressing their own feelings: Parents may feel that because they are not the actual crime victim themselves, they should be able to deal with their own feelings and "just get over it."
It is important for parents to realize that their feelings are valid. Everyone who is directly involved with the victim will be affected by his/her sexual assault. Consider utilizing stress reduction techniques to manage anxiety and don't blame your son or daughter. Believe your child. Seek outside resources and support for yourself. Let your child ask you for what he or she needs, and try not to assume that you will automatically know.
For the Parents of a Student Accused of Sexual Assault
If you learn that your son/daughter has been accused of sexual misconduct under the UNCW Code of Student Life, you can contact the Office of the Dean of Students to access resources for your child and to talk about how you can best support your student through a difficult experience.
For more information on how you can support your child, you can also contact the Assistant Director of Violence Prevention at CARE at 962-CARE.
How to Help Your Student Help a Friend
All of the information on this website can be useful in cases where you are supporting your student who is attempting to help a friend who has been assaulted. Your student may feel overwhelmed, angry, frustrated, or helpless in this situation. In these cases you can further be helpful by:
- Sharing the resources on this website with your student.
- Explain to your student that his or her feelings are normal, including frustration if his/her friend is not taking the steps he/she wants the friend to take.
- Urge your student to consult with the professional staff of the CARE office to discuss their feelings or concerns. All consultations are confidential.
In the Aftermath of the Virginia Tech Tragedy
Stress Management Tips for Parents of College Students in the Aftermath of the Virginia Tech Shootings (American Psychological Association)
http://apahelpcenter.org/articles/article.php?id=153
Is my child safe on campus? (Paperclip Communications)
http://www.paper-clip.com/virginiatech/parentsvt.pdf
