What’s Next?

Questions You Might Have:

Do I have to tell the police?

No. As long as you are over the age of 17, it is your choice whether you want to go to the police. If someone else is concerned about your safety or believes you are in danger, that person may call the police. Generally, it is your option to press charges.

Will the school tell my parents?

In most cases, no. FERPA is a federal law that protects information about you and your access of University services.

Do I have to discuss what happened with the University?

No. If you get a phone call or email from a University employee and do not want to discuss your experience, please respond and let the employee know you do not want to discuss the incident.

What do I do if …

1. I am concerned about my immediate health or safety, or feel like I or someone else is in danger

If you are concerned that you or someone else is in danger of imminent physical harm, contact law enforcement immediately. If you are on the Oxford campus, the University Police Department can be reached at (662) 915-4911 or (662) 915-7234. If you are in the Oxford city limits, you can reach the Oxford Police Department by calling 911 or (662) 232-2400. If you are in Lafayette County, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office can be reached by calling 911 or (662) 234-6421. The hospital that serves the University, the city of Oxford, and Lafayette County, is Baptist Memorial Hospital and can be reached by calling 911 or (662) 232-8100. The number 911 should only be used for emergencies.

2. I want evidence collected (Rape kit, SANE kit)?

The Student Health Center on the Oxford campus offers Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) exams Monday through Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Baptist Memorial Hospital can do evidence collection 24 hours a day. If possible, take the clothing you were wearing with you, and do not shower or eat before seeking to have evidence collected. You can have evidence collected up to 96 hours (four days) after an incident has occurred. The hospital will notify the police; however, you do not have to discuss what happened with the police unless you choose to do so.

3. I want the police to investigate what happened?

The most common law enforcement agencies that interact with the University community are the University Police Department, the Oxford Police Department, and the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office. If you are on the Oxford campus, the University Police Department can be reached at (662) 915-4911 or (662) 915-7234. If you are in the Oxford city limits, you can reach the Oxford Police Department by calling 911 or (662) 232-2400. If you are in Lafayette County, the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office can be reached by calling 911 or (662) 234-6421. The number 911 should only be used for emergencies.

4. I want the University to investigate what happened?

If you would like the University to investigate what happened, contact the Assistant Director of EORC/Title IX Coordinator. The EORC Office is located in Lester Hall 120.  The Assistant Director of EORC/Title IX Coordinator can be reached by email at hbussery@olemiss.edu or titleIX@olemiss.edu, or by phone at (662) 915-7045.

5. I want University services and/or accommodations?

Depending on the circumstances, the University can provide numerous services, including academic accommodations, housing accommodations, counseling, health care services, parking services, police escorts, no-contact orders and other options. Either the Assistant Director of EORC/Title IX Coordinator, a VIP: Survivor Support advocate, or a UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy advocate, can help provide these accommodations. The University may also be able to recommend off-campus services.

6. I want to talk to a counselor?

The University has several options available for counseling services. The University Counseling Center is located on the Oxford campus and is available to University students and employees. The Counseling Center does not charge for its services. The University’s Psychological Services Center is located on the Oxford campus and is available to University students and employees and the general public. The Psychological Services Center charges users for its services on a sliding scale. The University has a Student Health Center located on the Oxford campus that offers psychiatric services and general medical care. There is no charge to see a physician or nurse practitioner. Family Crisis Services offers free counseling services off-campus as space allows. Contact information for these resources can be found above.

7. I want to talk to someone about advocacy?

Advocates are individuals provided by the University who work with victim-survivors, or students accused, of interpersonal violence or sexual misconduct.

For victim-survivors, as well as individuals who are alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment (complainants), the University has a VIP: Survivor Support area located in Longstreet 309 on the Oxford campus. Please call (662) 816-5377 to speak to an advocate.

For individuals who have been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual harassment (respondents), the University has UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy. Please call (662) 915-7248 to speak to an advocate.

8. I want to keep my information private?

The Counseling Center, Student Health Center and Psychological Services are granted privilege by Mississippi law. Privilege means that in most circumstances employees in those offices are prohibited by law from sharing your information without your permission. Privilege applies to all individuals over the age of 18 but does not cover minors. In addition to employees with privilege, University policy allows workers in VIP: Survivor Support as well as in UMatter: Student Support & Advocacy to keep information private in most circumstances. Most other employees on campus are required to report all information about sex-based discrimination, sexual harassment, interpersonal violence, and other sexual misconduct to the Assistant Director of EORC/Title IX Coordinator.

If you choose to seek a medical exam for the sake of evidence collection (SANE exam), the medical provider probably will notify law enforcement so the evidence can be collected and preserved. You do not have to discuss what happened with the police unless you choose to do so.  You are also able to complete an evidence collection kit anonymously, and your kit would be stored under a code provided by the Student Health Center or Baptist Hospital.  If you are seeking a medical exam for other reasons, the information you provide to the medical staff generally will be protected by law.

Family Crisis Services of Northwest Mississippi is an advocacy service that is not affiliated with the university. Family Crisis Services will not share information with the university and generally will keep your information private unless you provide consent.

9. I want emergency contraception, STI testing, pregnancy testing and/or other non-urgent medical care?

The Student Health Center on campus provides all of these services. You may call for an appointment at (662) 915-7274 or walk in to be seen. You do not have to disclose to front desk personnel the reason you are seeking health care. The physician, nurse practitioner or nurse you speak with cannot share anything about the incident with anyone else.

 

Local Resources (Oxford Campus)

University Police Department

Kinard Hall
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-7234

For an emergency, call (662) 915-4911.

Oxford Police Department

715 Molly Barr Road
Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 232-2400

For an emergency, call 911.

Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office

711 Jackson Ave. East
Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 234-6421

University Counseling Center

320 Lester Hall
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-3784

For an emergency, call (662) 915-7234.

Equal Opportunity & Regulatory Compliance and Title IX Office

Honey Ussery

Assistant Director of EORC and Title IX Coordinator

hbussery@olemiss.edu
120 Lester Hall
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-7045

VIP: Survivor Support

Shelli Poole
309 Longstreet
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-1059

sapoole@olemiss.edu

Baptist Memorial Hospital

2301 South Lamar Blvd.
Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 232-8100

For an emergency, call 911.

Student Health Center

Rebel Drive
Open M-F, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for walk-ins
(662) 915-7274

Psychological Services

382 Kinard Hall
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-7385

 

Family Crisis Services of NW Mississippi

Oxford, MS 38655
(662) 234-9929
(800) 230-9929 (24/7)

Office of Conflict Resolution and Student Conduct

100 Somerville Hall
University, MS 38677
(662) 915-1387

 

Statewide Resources

Mississippi Coalition Against Domestic Violence Statewide Hotline

(800) 898-3234

Mississippi Coalition Against Sexual Assault

(888) 987-9011

Mississippi Attorney General’s Crime Victim Assistance Program

(800) 829-6766

 

National Hotlines

RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline

(800) 656-4673
Online: rainn.org

Loveisrespect (Dating Violence) Hotline

(866) 331-9474
Text “loveis” to 22522 (standard rates apply for texts)
Online: loveisrespect.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline

(800) 799-7233
Online:  thehotline.org