Title IX

If a friend confides in you about experiencing sexual assault, harassment, stalking, or relationship violence, it’s natural to feel uncertain about how to help. You don’t need to have all the answers — the most powerful things you can offer are support and connection to resources.

 

How to Respond

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Listen

  • Let them share what they’re comfortable with — don’t press for details.
  • Thank them for sharing with you. Your trust and support can be a critical part of their decisions.

Affirm their Feelings

  • Use supportive, validating statements like:
    “I’m so sorry this happened to you.”
    “Thank you for telling me. I believe you.”

Respect their Choices

  • Healing and reporting are deeply personal decisions.
  • Support your friend’s choices, even if they differ from what you’d do.

What Not to Do

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Blame

  • Don’t blame or question their actions (e.g., “Why were you there?” or “Why didn’t you say something?”)

Try to fix it

  • Don’t try to fix it or take control — empower them instead.

Share with others

  • Don’t share the information with others without their explicit permission, unless there is an immediate safety concern.

 

Resources to Consider

Report to Title IX – Reporting to the Title IX office is a quick and easy way to get your friend connected to the NSU office that can coordinate many of the resources they may need. Reporting to Title IX means that your friend can learn about all kinds of resources and support, available on- and off-campus, and often free of charge. Your friend can share as little or as much as they are comfortable sharing. Here are many of the ways Title IX can help:

  • Advising about rights and options
  • Assisting with reporting to law enforcement if desired
  • Getting connected to confidential counseling on- or off-campus
  • Safety measures such as additional monitoring
  • Changes to room or class schedules
  • No-contact orders or other supportive measures
  • Learning about the campus Title IX investigation process
  • Verifying excused absences due to an incident, medical care, or reporting to police

Report now to get help for your friend.