In recent months, several marketing campaigns have commodified at-home sexual assault kits under the guise of empowering victims/survivors. We acknowledge that it is important for victims/survivors to feel empowered in their choice to either utilize or not utilize any number of formal reporting, counseling, and/or medical options. However, these self-administered sexual assault kits are not medically comprehensive, may not be considered admissible evidence in courts of law, and take advantage of sexual assault victims/survivors for a profit.

The Student Advisory Committee on Sexual Misconduct (SACSM), would like to remind students of the various on-campus and community resources available to them. In the state of Iowa, sexual assault medical exams are available from a trained nurse examiner at all hours of the day. We want to stress that these are free and medically protective services oriented towards victim/survivor wellbeing.

If you would like to learn more about the sexual assault medical exam process, please visit https://osmrc.uiowa.edu/resources-victimsurvivors/victimsurvivor-options/seek-medical-assistance

For additional information on resources and other support options, please visit https://osmrc.uiowa.edu/resources-victimsurvivors/victimsurvivor-options

Signed,

Ganon Evans, Kayla Faust, Eunae Han, Mykala Housholder, Margaret Klemme, Charlotte Namakula, Emmy Palmersheim, Mariah Pride, Javon Stovall, Pearl Tate, Paula Valino, Olivia Westemeier, Taya Westfield, Addison Woll