Office of Victim Services
(formerly known as C.A.R.E.)
About the Office of Victim Services
Becoming a victim of a crime can happen to anyone and students, active in all facets of community life, are no exception. Faced with a host of critical issues, decisions and problems that can arise if one becomes a victim, life as usual - attending classes, going to work, studying, socializing - becomes anything BUT usual. The specially tailored Office of Victim Services is available for our students no matter where a crime occurs on or off campus, or whether the student elects to file an official police report or not. Certified victim assistance specialists address the immediate and long-term questions and issues (What are my options? What happens if I...? How can I?), handle the non-counseling fallout from the crime (ex., missed classes or work, room change, course disruptions, safety planning and concerns), attend to ongoing distractions or interruptions (involvement in any judicial processes/appearances) and work to resolve any matters or concerns that arise related to the crime and its impact on the college experience. Services are provided within a framework that is attentive, sensitive and knowledgeable so that no matter where our students live, work and socialize, if there is ever a need, there is a wealth of assistance through the Office of Victim Services.
What do I do if I have been sexually assaulted?
- Immediately get to a safe place.
- Call the police
- Contact the Office of Victim Services.
The 24-hour emergency team response pager number is 843.724.3600.
For non-emergency assistance or general information, please call 843.953.2273 during normal business hours. - Get medical assistance ASAP.
It's important that you receive treatment at a facility where the staff is specially trained to provide care for sexual assault survivors. The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) ER has a team of specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners on call 24/7 to care for female and male victims of sexual assault.
You have the right to a free medical/forensic exam at MUSC for up to 120 hours (or 5 days) after an assault whether you chose to file an official incident report or report anonymously. - More Information at the Student Health Services web page: What do I do if I have been sexually assaulted?
