Information for Families

At the SHARPP Center, we work with individuals to help them define their experiences in ways that feel comfortable and make sense to them. This may or may not include a label like, “sexual assault.”   When someone feels impacted by an experience that may have been harmful, unwanted, or non-consensual, we work with them regardless of the label they use for their experience or whether or not their experience may fit into a framework that is recognized under the law or institutional policy. However, both NH State Law and UNH Policy prohibit sexual assault. Each defines them differently and our advocates can help someone explore those differences if they are relevant to someone’s options and desired outcomes. Should you desire to read more, you can find NH’s definition of Sexual Assault in RSA 632-A:1 or UNH’s definition of consent and sexual misconduct in the Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities (SRRR).   

Talk to your student about consent. To ensure that sexual encounters are consensual, communication before and during ANY sexual activity is a must! Consent is an agreement that involves seeking (asking) and receiving (getting an answer) expressed permission to engage in sexual activity or contact. Although it may be possible to seek and express permission without words (example: a head nod), body language can be easy to misinterpret. It's important to look for clear, enthusiastic consent. 

No. The Center grew out of a grassroots movement in the 1980s in response to a sexual assault on campus that received local and national attention. The SHARPP Center was created to help provide adequate support services to survivors and as a means through which the University community could be educated on the issues of interpersonal violence, healthy relationships, and rape culture.

Interpersonal violence is not more prevalent at UNH than on other college campuses. National statistics show that people ages 18-25 experience sexual violence at higher rates than any other age demographic.

On college campuses, as in other contexts, interpersonal violence is most often perpetrated by someone known to the survivor rather than by a stranger; for instance, romantic partners, friends, or acquaintances. The trauma caused by this kind of experience is no less severe than that of stranger-perpetrated violence.

Within the Student Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities Handbook, UNH specifies that sexual misconduct, unwanted sexual contact, harassment, stalking, and relationship abuse are violations of institutional policy.

The Code of Conduct also states that consent should be mutual, voluntary, informed, and ongoing. The presence of threats, force, manipulation, intimidation, and coercion (including using drugs or alcohol to incapacitate someone) is a violation of consent. Any sexual contact or penetration without consent is against the UNH Code of Conduct. NH state laws and federal legislation such as Title IX also prohibit interpersonal violence.

We collaborate with Residential Life and other Student Life offices to provide educational programs about interpersonal violence, survivor support, and campus resources. Many of these programs are offered specifically for first-year students.

We also offer a wide variety of educational programming in academic classrooms, Fraternity and Sorority Life chapters, residential halls, and the MUB (UNH's student center). Our educational programming is designed specifically for UNH students to help them learn more about sexual violence, healthy & unhealthy relationships, stalking, rape culture, and the pivotal role of active bystanders. In addition, information about The SHARPP Center is readily available visually around campus, online, and by word-of-mouth referrals from students, staff, and faculty.

During the academic year, we run several awareness campaigns that educate the community about relationship abuse (October), stalking (January) and sexual assault (April).

The SHARPP Center is committed to being available in a variety of ways. These include: 

• 24/7/365 support helpline that is available even on holidays and during school breaks at (603) 862–7233. 
• Text with an advocate Monday-Friday 11am-3pm by texting (603) 606-9393. 
• Chat online with an advocate Monday-Friday 11am-3pm. 
•  Visit us in-person Monday-Friday, 9AM-4PM, by drop-in or appointment. The SHARPP Center is located in Wolff House, directly next to UNH's Health & Wellness.

Yes. We offer support services to family members during our office hours as well as through our 24/7 support line. We can help explain resources and options, discuss ways to best support your student, and give you a place to express your concerns. Because our services are confidential, we cannot verify that we are working with your student or share information about them without their prior written consent. 
Learn More

Alcohol does not cause interpersonal violence of any kind, including sexual assault. Many people choose to drink and never perpetrate violence. However, the majority of students who experience sexual violence in college say that alcohol or other drugs were involved in some way. 

Being under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs can increase the risk that you perpetrate harm or violence, cross a boundary, or violate consent. Alcohol can serve as both a weapon and a camouflage. It can be used to incapacitate and take advantage of someone, and as an excuse or cover for harmful, dangerous, or violent behavior. 

Talk to your students about the signs that someone is too intoxicated to consent to sexual activity: 

• They are unaware of their surroundings 
• They are unsteady on their feet, swaying or falling down, or need assistance to move from point A to point B 
• Their speech is slurred 
• They have trouble focusing or holding a conversation 

• They lose control over their bodily functions (throwing up, urinating, etc.) 

Even just one of these signals is enough to know. Be honest with yourself about other people's level of intoxication as well as your own, and look out for others who may be displaying these signs. 

In addition to alcohol, however, students should be aware that "date rape drugs" are present on college campuses and in society in general. They can be colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Signs that one may have been drugged include: 

• Feeling more intoxicated than usual when drinking the same amount 
• Waking up feeling especially hung over and being unable to account for periods of time 
• Being able to remember taking a drink, but being unable to recall events after that 
• Feeling physically as though you have had sex, but not being able to recall part or all of the encounter 

If a person is concerned that they may have been drugged, it is important to know that these substances are most likely to be detected by a blood or urine test within 24 hours of ingestion. After 24 hours, even if ingested, these substances may not yield results on a test. The SHARPP Center can provide additional information and assistance on how to access this testing. 

Learn more about alcohol from UNH Health & Wellness

Although your student may not have been into drinking or partying as a high school student, that could change in college. This is the first time many students are living on their own and are experiencing a new level of autonomy as well as broadened options for their social lives. Although not all college students drink, it is important to still talk to your student about alcohol and other drugs, safer use strategies, and how to look out for friends who may choose to drink. 

Regardless of the choices a person makes, such as if they are choosing to drink or party, a person is never responsible for violence committed against them. It is especially important for the loved ones, families, and friends of victims and survivors to provide support and avoid blaming them for violence another person chose to perpetrate against them. Doing so can only cause further harm during a time when what they need is support, and we know the messages victims & survivors receive when disclosing their experience have significant impacts on their choices to seek help and their long-term mental health/wellbeing. 

While we know that harm often occurs at the intersection of alcohol and sex, that does not account for every experience of violence in our community. Even if your child chooses to not drink or attend parties during their time at UNH, that does not mean that they will not be directly or indirectly impacted by interpersonal violence. Rather than seeing this as good, bad, or scary news, we hope that you will see this as an opportunity to engage with your student about the choices they make and the narratives they hear about interpersonal violence and how or where it can happen. So often, our advice about “preventing” interpersonal violence comes down to “be aware of your surroundings,” and misses the opportunity to have honest conversations about the realities of how, where, and when interpersonal violence is perpetrated.  

Interpersonal violence is, unfortunately, a global and societal issue that affects us all beyond the bounds of UNH –- we hope that all members of our community are part of creating not just a campus environment, but a world that is free from violence. We hope to support the learning and growth of our students so they can apply lessons learned here and throughout their lives and contribute to creating safe and healthy communities wherever they go.

The Rape Aggression Defense system is a national program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques taught for women only. The SHARPP Center does not provide RAD classes, however they can be taken through the UNH Police Department. Although RAD classes offer great skills for women, remember that anyone can be impacted by violence, that interpersonal violence is never the fault of the victim/survivor, and that it is less often perpetrated by strangers than by people one already knows.

Yes. At the SHARPP Center, we offer free and confidential support services for survivors of relationship abuse, sexual violence, harassment, and stalking, regardless of whether it occurred before or after enrollment at UNH.  

We know that transitioning to an unfamiliar environment, or having new experiences may prompt your student to think differently about past experiences, or perhaps they are now aware of dedicated resources like the SHARPP Center for the first time! They may choose to work with an advocate to: 

• Have a confidential space to speak with someone about a new or changing understanding of a past experience 
• Receive support as you explore how you want to make choices about relationships and boundaries 
• Explore strategies to increase feelings of safety & autonomy on campus 
• Identify other resources and providers in the area, such as mental health providers, academic support services, and formal reporting opportunities. 

While we certainly hope that your student will not experience sexual assault, relationship violence, harassment, or stalking while at UNH, it’s impossible to predict who may need our services. While your student may or may not seek services for an experience that you have had, they may need support or information about something that has happened to a friend, roommate, loved one, or partner. It’s important that you are informed about The SHARPP Center's services and educational offerings so that you can support others and be a source of vital knowledge in your communities. 

Anyone can be a survivor of violence, regardless of the identities they hold - including gender. The SHARPP Center offers support services to individuals of all genders and all experiences of harm, even if you wouldn't personally label an experience as assault or violence.  The SHARPP Center can offer support around unwanted sexual experiences, harmful interactions, and unhealthy relationship dynamics.   

In many settings, the gender binary has been a primary lens through which interpersonal violence has been viewed—think of how often these issues are still referred to as “violence against women,” or “gender-based violence.” At the SHARPP Center, we are committed to acknowledging the reality that harm happens to individuals of all genders, AND that harm can be committed by individuals of all genders, which means we all have a role to play in supporting survivors and preventing violence.    

At the SHARPP Center, we offer educational programming on consent, healthy relationships, rape culture, bystander intervention, harassment, and more which is open to all. You can also get involved with anti-violence work by volunteering with us or attending upcoming events throughout the year.

Student volunteers play a vital role at The SHARPP Center. They staff our 24-hour helpline, respond to after-hours calls from police and emergency rooms, and provide important information to their peers through education and outreach programming. Our volunteers are leaders and changemakers in the UNH community.

The SHARPP Center offers 2 volunteer tracks: Peer Advocates and Community Educators.
Learn more

If volunteering doesn't sound like a good fit for your student, they can consider attending some of the many events we host throughout the year, such as film screenings, rallies, workshops, speakers, and more. Another great way to engage with us is by following us on social media @unhsharpp.

Blue Light Safety Phones

There are Blue Light Safety phones located around campus. Each light is specifically placed to be in sight of another light. The phones automatically dial the UNH dispatch center. The Blue Lights are available and active 365 days/year. The typical response time when a light is activated is less than two minutes.

UNH Police Department Escort Service

If you are on campus late and don't feel safe walking alone, you can call the UNH Police Department’s escort service at (603) 862-1427 and have a police escort meet you where you are and accompany you to an on-campus destination. We suggest that students program the escort service into their cell phones.

uSafeUS® App

uSafeUS is a free and confidential app with easy-to-use tools to help students and their friends make a smooth exit from uncomfortable situations, get home safely, and find support in the aftermath of sexual assault, relationship violence, or stalking. Students and parents can download the app for free from the Apple App Store or Google Play.

UNH "United to End" Website

UNH's United To End webpage outlines the university's commitment to violence prevention, reporting, training, and safety. You can find information about ongoing safety, support, and prevention initiatives and read the UNH Comprehensive Prevention Plan.