Sixteen NIU students were victims of sexual assault in the fall 1988 semester, said NIU’s assistant director of nursing services at the University Health Service.

Beverly Beetham reported that 15 of the victims were female and one was a male. The health center dealt with eight of the 16 cases, she said.

Reports of the remaining cases were directed to the three other members of the response team: the NIU Counseling and Student Development Center, the Students’ Legal Assistance Office and the University Police.

The response team is contacted voluntarily, depending on the wishes of the victim, Beetham said.

Victims are given medical examinations at the health center at no expense to the victim, she said. Beetham advises victims to see a counselor, and contact the police.

Kris Povlsen, director of sexual assault and abuse at the Ben Gordon Center, said the center has a 24-hour response team trained by police and hospital personnel on how to provide aid and support to sexual assault victims.

The center also helps people still experiencing trauma for years after their attack, he said. The center serves as an aid in short-term crisis counseling, Povlsen said.

Frequent questions asked following an attack are, “Do I go to the hospital? Do I contact the State’s Attorney’s Office? Do I get the police involved?” he said.

Equipped with 12 counselors, the center dealt with 18 cases last year, he said. Two counselors are on call at all times.

Victims of sexual assault should remain calm and seek help because psychological damage has been done, he said. Victims should not bathe, wash hair or destroy clothing because it could be used as evidence, he said, adding that victims should contact the police.

A pamphlet available in the Students’ Legal Assistance Office and used by the Sexual Assault Task Force informs students of myths and facts about sexual assault.

One myth is that sexual assault is caused by the uncontrollable sex drives of men or women. Sexual assault is an act of physical and emotional violence, not of sexual gratification, the pamphlet states.