Faculty & Staff Toolkit

In an Emergency 24/7

From any campus phone,
call 4300 or 911

From a mobile phone,
call SMC dispatch
310-434-4300

If off-campus, call 911

If a student reports that he or she has been a victim of sexual assault, sexual harassment, or sexual misconduct, the student has options on how to proceed. The most important thing is that the student is safe and is not in imminent danger.

What to Do When a Student is in Distress

Listen non-judgmentally. Accept the experience as the student describes it. Articulate clearly you believe the student and you want to provide support in any way that you can.
Validate the student’s feelings
Assure the student that it is not their fault. Self-blame is common among victims of sexual violence.
Do not make judgmental comments. Do not comment on what could have been done differently or make statements that imply that the student could have avoided the harassment or assault.
Be sympathetic. However, do not let your own emotions get in the way of supporting the student.
Discuss options. Show them the SMC Administrative Regulation on Sexual Misconduct and provide a Sexual Misconduct Brochure on sexual misconduct.
Get support for yourself. Do not hesitate to seek advice from individuals who are in a position to help. It is not necessary to give names or details of the incident to get initial support and to learn more about options. Some options for help include the SMC Care Crisis Prevention & Prevention Team, SMC Psychological Services, and the SMC Title IX Officer.