Know More

Student Government at the University of Florida does not tolerate sexual misconduct or power based personal violence in our community. The kNOw More Initiative seeks to support, inform, and advocate for victims, friends and family of victims, and UF Faculty at the University of Florida by connecting them to the wealth of resources available to help.

About

What is kNOw MORE UF?

The kNOw MORE initiative originates from the idea that there is a serious problem on college campuses of power-based personal violence and sexual violence that must come to an end. The first step to ending this pervasive issue is to know more about the issue and gain understanding. kNOw MORE is committed to supporting students by connecting them to the wealth of resources available to help. kNOw MORE is a UF Student Government initiative.

Mission Statement

We want to provide a one-stop location for all the resources available in the Gator community and surrounding areas to support, inform, and advocate for the prevention of power-based personal violence for all members of the Gator community, including marginalized communities. The purpose of kNOw MORE is to create an environment in which sexual assault is unacceptable, and survivors are supported fully by ensuring a trauma-informed approach. kNOw MORE intends to seek tough yet honest conversations to promote the collective understanding that we are responsible for preventing power-based personal violence. The mission of kNOw MORE is to assemble the services available to Gators and build trust in our institutional resources.

Value Statement

We hope to create a community that is free of power-based personal violence and a culture that encourages open communication, transparency, and awareness by compiling institutional resources.

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Office of Victim Services

(352) 392-5648

(352) 392-1111 (after business hours and on weekends)

Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Confidential
Seek Support & Services
File a Report or Complaint

Other Information: No Police or Title IX Report Required

UFPD

Emergency: 911

Non-Emergency: (352) 392-1111

Seek Support & Services
File a Report or Complaint

Other Information: Criminal Matters Only

UF Employee Assistance Program

24-Hour Hotline: (352) 392-1575

Confidential
Seek Support & Services

Other Information: Employees Only

Alachua County Victim Services

Phone Number: (352) 264-6760

Counseling and Wellness Center

Phone Number: (352) 392-1575

Peaceful Paths

Call: (352) 377-8255

Text: (352) 727-0948

On-Campus Resources

GatorSafe App

The GatorSafe app provides a variety of safety resources for the UF community. The app allows individuals to make emergency calls, receive safety alerts, and report a crime tip. Using the app, you can trigger a mobile blue light that will send your location to UFPD and use a personal safety toolbox that has a loud alarm and more. The app is free and can be downloaded to smartphones.

The Office of Victim Services at UFPD

The Office of Victim Services provides a victim advocate for anyone who is a victim of a crime while on the University of Florida campus. All services are free and confidential. This office ensures that victims receive a victim’s advocate who will ensure they receive fair treatment. The Office of Victim Services provides presentations and courses for members of the UF community.

The University of Florida Police Department

UFPD is an accredited law enforcement agency that provides safety and security for the University of Florida campus. UFPD provides 24/7 patrol to prevent crime and protect the community. UFPD provides a variety of classes for students including Rape Aggression Defense.

Counseling and Wellness Center (CWC)

The UF Counseling and Wellness Center has professional counselors and therapists who offer individual or group counseling to help deal with issues relating to victimization or sexual exploitation. The services offered at the CWC are free and confidential.

UF Student Legal Services

Student Legal Services provides a wide variety of legal services ranging from advice with legal documents to legal research to drafting legal documents. These services are pre-paid by the University of Florida. They also educate students on their legal rights through lectures, workshops, presentations, and the distribution of information on a variety of legal issues.

U Matter We Care

U Matter We Care aims to help the UF community through education, providing pathways to get involved in the initiative, and supporting students. They provide many resources and trainings for the UF community.

GatorWell

GatorWell strives to empower students to be healthy through prevention. They provide a variety of services and help prepare students for success. They have many presentations and workshops for students.

CARE

CARE is an office in the Dean of Students Office that uses resources and success plans to ensure that every student feels part of the UF community. They also assist in problem solving and the medical withdrawal process.

Student Health Care Center

The SHCC is committed to ensuring that every student achieves their optimal health in pursuit of academic success and provides a variety of treatments. They provide 24/7 on-call services at 392-1161.

Off-Campus Resources

Alachua County Victim Services and Rape Crisis Center

All services are free and confidential. They offer a 24/7 sexual assault hotline and provide advocates for victims.

Peaceful Paths

A shelter for victims of domestic violence in Alachua County. They offer a 24/7 hotline that is available through call or text.

UF Policy Statement

The University of Florida is committed to providing a safe educational, working, and residential environment that is free from sexual harassment or misconduct directed towards any and all members of the community. To achieve this goal, no behavior of this nature will be tolerated and, if discovered, the procedure for investigation and potential adjudication, as outlined in this policy, will be followed. Similarly, retaliation against an individual who has filed a complaint regarding alleged sexual harassment or misconduct is also against University policy and may result in disciplinary action. Students, faculty, staff, contracted workers and visitors are urged to promptly report any such behavior to the Office of Title IX Compliance.

Student Rights

Students have the ability to request relocation/change of housing, transportation, academic course assignment, counseling services, legal services, and law enforcement notification.
Students have the right to report the incident, have the school investigate the incident (including when the incident occurred off-campus or by people who are not students) and have the complaint resolved promptly and effectively.
Students have the right to report any retaliatory acts by the alleged perpetrator, faculty or other students, and the school is required to take strong action in response to such retaliation. Schools must provide an “adequate, reliable, and impartial” investigation regarding reported incidents of sexual violence.
Student survivors have the right to present evidence/witnesses, be notified of the timeline of the investigation, to have any proceedings documented, and to be notified in writing of the outcome of the investigation as well as any appeals. If after conducting an investigation, the school finds evidence of a hostile environment resulting from sexual violence they are required to take effective steps to end the violence and eliminate the hostile environment as well as prevent recurrence.
For more information take a look at the Student’s Rights section of the Orange Book pages 20-24 to know and understand your legal student rights.

The University of Florida recognizes the impact of power-based personal violence. Power-based personal violence is a form of violence that uses assertion of power, control and/or intimidation with the intent to harm another. This kind of violence can include sexual assault /rape, relationship/partner violence, stalking, intimidation, and sexual harassment. Power-based personal violence can be committed by friends, strangers, acquaintances, or partners. This term is often used because it is a more inclusive term and in order to recognize that it can happen to anyone no matter gender or sexual orientation. We believe it is important to take action and use prevention and education to care for our community.

Important UF stats:

30.1% of undergraduate women and 7.7% of undergraduate men experienced nonconsensual sexual contact by force or inability to consent
19% of graduate women and 3.9% of graduate men experienced nonconsensual sexual conduct by force or inability to consent. The rate for graduate women increased 6.6% since the 2015 survey.
14.8% of transgender, nonbinary or genderqueer undergraduate and graduate students experienced nonconsensual sexual contact by force or inability to consent.
Almost half of UF students (45%) experienced at least one type of harassment.
Students who report identifying with a disability, and non-heterosexual students were nearly twice as likely to experience non-consensual sexual contact. Source UF AAU Spring 2019

Offer Support

Sometimes all you need is a friend.

If your friend is the victim of power-based personal violence, you most likely want to offer support and help them as much as you can. This is not always possible, but under the right circumstances a friend can help cope, find help, or even heal. It is important to remember that everyone deals with circumstances, especially traumatic ones, differently. They may want to vent to you or even completely shut you out, but it is important to understand that there are ways to support your friend in any scenario. It is hard to know what to say or do when a friend has experienced a traumatic event, so here are some healthy ways to support your friend.

It is important to believe your friend because it does take a lot of courage to speak up and share their experience.
Make sure to actively listen and stay engaged in the conversation. Try to withhold judgement and don’t ask too many questions. Your job is to listen and offer support.
Assure your friend that it is not their fault. As a friend, you can assure them that no invites a violation.
Make sure to respect their privacy and do not share their experience unless they give you permission.
Let your friend make their own decisions and take the lead. You can suggest a variety of resources available to them, but ultimately let them decide the route they want to take.
If your friend is considering reporting, advise them to not shower or wash their clothes because evidence is very time sensitive.
Some helpful things to say are:
- How can I help you?
- Would you like to talk about?
- This must be very painful and difficult for you.

Don’t hesitate to reach out to campus resources with any questions or concerns.
Complete the Kognito online training through the UF CWC to learn effective techniques to help and refer
Make sure to get help for yourself too because the incident has also stirred up feelings in you as well.

Receiving the News

As a parent or guardian, there are many different emotions to learning that your child was the victim of power-based personal violence. There are many feelings that can come along with hearing this news, and it can be easy to let these emotions take control of your actions. It is important to remember to believe, listen, and respect your child and their story.

If the survivor is under the age of 18, parents are able to make decisions on their child’s behalf, including evidence collections, participation in criminal, legal and university avenues, and the initiation of counseling services.
If the survivor is over the age of 18, the survivor is no longer a minor and has the legal right to make decisions on their own, even if their wishes do not align with those of their parents.
An important thing is to believe the survivor and assure them that it was not their fault no matter the circumstances. Try to not place blame on the survivor.
Try to be patient and ask how you can be helpful to them. Refrain from trying to “fix” the situation and pushing them towards recovering immediately. It is important to respect their wishes.
Be aware of their feelings and that their behavior can change at any time.
Even if the survivor isn’t talking to you, it is okay. Your support is powerful enough and let’s them know that you are there when they are ready to talk about their experience.
Remember that everyone deals with trauma differently. Stay supportive and understand that everyone heals differently.
Be sure to take care of yourself and seek support if necessary.

Your Response Matters

Upon learning that your partner/spouse was the victim of power-based personal violence, it can be easy to start questioning yourself and your relationship, especially what it will be like in the future. You may be thinking of how others will judge you, who caused it, or what intimacy will be like in the future. It is important to understand that all feelings and thoughts are valid during a crisis.

Most of the time the most helpful thing you can do is be patient and offer support. There is not a specific timeline that victims take to recover, so these guidelines might help:

Take time to educate yourself about sexual assault and the healing process.
Acknowledge what happened and don’t try to ignore it.
Consistently listen to your partner and withhold judgement.
Check-in with your partner to see what they need and let them choose how to proceed after an assault. Make sure to acknowledge their feelings.
Encourage your partner to use available resources.
Make sure you receive support and recognize the feelings you are facing.

You Have An Obligation

As a UF faculty or staff member you are in a unique position to create and maintain a warm, encouraging environment for all types of students. It is vital to provide a supportive atmosphere for all students, and to remember that you are a mandated reporter of all potential forms of student abuse. In every opportunity, you should alert students to the support-based personnel accessible on campus, and assure them that help is available. In the case that a student does share something in private with you, be sure to validate them and let them know that you believe them and that they can be safe with you. Also be transparent about your limitations as a mandated reporter; use language such as “I respect your privacy, and it’s only right that you know that I am required to tell someone if you share that you're being hurt by someone or planning on hurting yourself or others.” Understand that it is not your role to be counselor, however, realize that you can share the necessary resources and information that can save someone’s life.