Title IX

Sexual Misconduct Policy

Expectations

The expectations of our community regarding sexual misconduct can be summarized as follows:  In order for individuals to engage in sexual activity of any type with each other, there must be clear, knowing and voluntary consent prior to and during sexual activity.  Consent is sexual permission.  Consent can be given by word or action, but non-verbal consent is not as clear as talking about what you want sexually and what you don’t.  Consent to some form of sexual activity cannot be automatically taken as consent to any other form of sexual activity.  Silence--without actions demonstrating permission--cannot be assumed to show consent. 

Additionally, there is a difference between seduction and coercion.  Coercing someone into sexual activity violates this policy in the same way as physically forcing someone into sex.  Coercion happens when someone is pressured unreasonably for sex. 

Because alcohol or other drug use can place the capacity to consent in question, sober sex is less likely to raise such questions.  When alcohol or other drugs are being used, a person will be considered unable to give valid consent if they cannot fully understand the details of a sexual interaction (who, what, when, where, why, or how) because they lack the capacity to reasonably understand the situation.  Individuals who consent to sex must be able to understand what they are doing. Under this policy, “No” always means “No,” and “Yes” may not always mean “Yes.”  Anything but a clear, knowing and voluntary consent to any sexual activity is equivalent to a “no.”

Sexual Misconduct Offenses include, but are not limited to:

  1. Quid Pro Quo Harassment
  2. Sexual Harassment
  3. Hostile Environment Harassment
  4. Non-Consensual Sexual Contact (or attempts to commit same)
  5. Sexual Assault
  6. Domestic Violence
  7. Dating Violence

The University's Sexual Misconduct Policy can be found in Section 2: General Standards of Conduct of the Student Code of Conduct.

Other Misconduct Offenses when sex or gender-based

  1. Threatening or causing physical harm, extreme verbal abuse, or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person;
  2. Discrimination, defined as actions that deprive other members of the community of educational or employment access, benefits or opportunities on the basis of gender;
  3. Intimidation, defined as implied threats or acts that cause an unreasonable fear of harm in another;
  4. Hazing, defined as acts likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social ostracism to any person within the university community, when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining, or any other group-affiliation activity (as defined further in the Hazing Policy);
  5. Bullying, defined as repeated and/or severe aggressive behavior likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control or diminish another person, physically or mentally (that is not speech or conduct otherwise protected by the 1st Amendment).
  6. Violence between those in an intimate relationship to each other;
  7. Stalking, defined as repetitive and/or menacing pursuit, following, harassment and/or interference with the peace and/or safety of a member of the community; or the safety of any of the immediate family of members of the community.

This policy was adapted from ATIXA with permission from ATIXA.

Reporting

Conduct Proceedings

A Student Complainant may bring an internal complaint against the Respondent using the formal process provided for sexual harassment complaints. This begins by reporting the incident/situation to the Dean of Students (or otherwise named Title IX Student Claim Recipient). The Dean of Students will evaluate the information provided and determine if there is the possibility of a Title IX claim, a different student conduct proceeding, or if there is not a meritorious claim. The Dean of Students remain neutral in the matter, and will only determine if there is a matter appropriate to investigate. At no point will the Dean decide the truthfulness of the violation by the accused.

The Dean of Students will discuss potential options with the Student Complainant, including formal and informal resolutions to the alleged violation.

As a rule, either party may have an advocate at any meetings or hearings related to this matter. This process may be used whether a criminal charge is filed or not and also may be used if the Respondent is found not guilty in a criminal court. The University reserves the right to bring a complaint against a student for sexual misconduct if the student is deemed a threat to the University community. If the incident has been reported to the police and the Respondent has been charged with the crime, the individual may be suspended indefinitely pending review of the circumstances by the University. The Respondent may be expelled, suspended for a specific period, or barred from attending, as determined by the Dean of Students or appropriate Vice President.

In a situation where sexual abuse has occurred, the University will take appropriate steps to accommodate changes to a Complainant’s academic, employment and/or living situations, if requested and reasonably available.

If a Title IX claim may have occurred, the Dean of Students will assign the Complaint to two Title IX trained investigators.

Timeline

The Investigators are neutral fact-finders who are faculty and staff specifically trained to investigate sexual misconduct cases and who will conduct interviews with the individual bringing forth the complaint, the respondent, and any relevant third-party witnesses. They will also gather evidence as they deem necessary to the case. The recordings of these interviews and evidence reviewed will be provided to both parties. The parties will have the opportunity to provide follow-up questions they would like asked to witnesses and the opposing party.

The Investigators will create a Final Report, which presents their findings addressing whether it is more likely than not that college policy has been violated. Where the investigators deem that there is insufficient evidence to support the allegations, the Investigators will state this.

After the Investigators Report is created, the University will issue a Final Decision which includes the findings and any disciplinary action which is deemed appropriate. 

Sanctions

Any student found responsible for violating the Title IX policy will likely receive a sanction ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the incident, and taking in to account any previous campus conduct code violations.

Appeals

Process Guidelines

Sanctions imposed during the conduct process post-investigation can be appealed by any party according to the grounds, below.  Post-hearing, any party may appeal the findings and/or sanctions only under the grounds described, below. 

  • All sanctions imposed will be in effect during the appeal. A request may be made to the Title IX Appeal Officer for special consideration in exigent circumstances, but the presumptive stance of the institution is that the sanctions will stand.  Graduation, study abroad, internships/externships, etc. do NOT in and of themselves constitute exigent circumstances, and students may not be able to participate in those activities during their appeal. In cases where the appeal results in reinstatement to the institution or of privileges, all reasonable attempts will be made to restore the student to their prior status, recognizing that some opportunities lost may be irretrievable in the short term.
  • The decision may be appealed by petitioning the Appeal Officer. Respondent students or complainants must petition within 3 business days (72 hours) of receiving the written decision for a review of the decision or the sanctions imposed.  Any party who files an appeal must do so in writing to the Dean of Students Office. The DOS will share the appeal with the other party (e.g., if the Respondent student appeals, the appeal is shared with the complainant, who may also wish to file a response. All appeals and responses are then forwarded to the appeals officer/committee for initial review to determine if the appeal meets the limited grounds and is timely.  The original finding and sanction will stand if the appeal is not timely or substantively eligible, and the decision is final.  If the appeal has standing, the documentation is forwarded for consideration.  The party requesting appeal must show error as the original finding and sanction are presumed to have been decided reasonably and appropriately. The ONLY grounds for appeal are as follows:
  1. A procedural irregularity occurred that would substantially impact the outcome of the decision;
  2. To consider new evidence, unavailable during the original hearing or investigation, that could substantially impact the original finding or sanction. A summary of this new evidence and its potential impact must be included;
  3. The Title IC Coordinator or Investigators possessed a conflict-of-interest that resulted in a bias that determined the outcome of the matter.
  • If the appeals officer determines that new evidence should be considered, it will return the complaint to the original Investigators to reconsider in light of the new evidence, only. 
  • If the appeals officer determines that a material procedural error occurred, it may return the complaint to the Investigators with instructions to reconvene to cure the error.  In rare cases, where the procedural [or substantive] error cannot be cured by the Investigators (as in cases of bias), the appeals officers or committee may order a new Investigation on the complaint with a new set of Investigators. The results of a reconvened hearing cannot be appealed. The results of a new hearing can be appealed, once, on the three applicable grounds for appeals.

The procedures governing the hearing of appeals include the following:

  • All parties should be timely informed of the status of requests for appeal, the status of the appeal consideration, and the results of the appeal decision;
  • Appeals are not intended to be full re-hearings of the complaint.  In most cases, appeals are confined to a review of the written documentation or record of the original hearing, and pertinent documentation regarding the grounds for appeal;
  • This is not an opportunity for appeals officers to substitute their judgment for that of the original hearing body merely because they disagree with its finding and/or sanctions. Appeals decisions are to be deferential to the original hearing body, making changes to the finding only where there is clear error and to the sanction only if there is a compelling justification to do so;
  • The appeals committee or officer will render a written decision on the appeal to all parties within seven (7) business days* from hearing of the appeal.  The committee’s decision to deny appeal requests is final.

Resources

Mount Mercy encourages all individuals who have been sexually abused to seek medical attention as well as emotional support. The University Health Services Office and University Counselor are available to assist students. Employees may seek assistance through the University’s EOO or Title IX Coordinator Employee Assistance Program.

Counseling and Emotional Support

Helping the individual affected by the harassment regain control of his or her choices is an important goal for responding to a party complaining of harassment. If the person does not wish to make a complaint, he/she may talk to a member of the counseling staff, University Nurse, or the University Chaplain. Because these staff members are professionals with special requirements regarding confidentiality, they are not required to report the incident and will not report the incident unless the complainant decides to release the information. They can provide information and confidential support about choices resulting from sexual harassment or abuse. All other employees of the University are expected to assist in reporting the complaint to the Equal Opportunity Officer (EOO), currently the Director of Human Resources, or the Title IX Coordinator as explained below.

Training, Prevention, and Awareness Programs

The Campus SaVE Act updates requirements concerning awareness and prevention programming about sexual assault and other intimate partner violence. Mount Mercy University is committed to doing training and awareness programs for students as well as training for officials conducting disciplinary proceedings and/or investigations in a way that protects the safety of victims and promotes accountability. Mount Mercy University does this by:

  • Prevention and awareness programming offered for all incoming students;
  • Training on sexual harassment, Title IX, consent, and confidentiality for employees;
  • Defining and educating student body on consent;
  • Reporting sex offenses;
  • Facilitating Bystander intervention trainings;
  • Risk reduction education;
  • Ongoing prevention and awareness campaigns including self-defense classes, seminars and trainings facilitated by local experts in the community, Title IX, Consent, and sexual harassment

Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act (Campus SaVE Act)

The Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act or Campus SaVE Act (H.R. 6461) is a bill introduced in the 2nd session of the 111th Congress by Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA 5th) and a bi-partisan group of 5 co-sponsors from across the country. The measure would amend the federal Jeanne Clery Act to update 18-year-old sexual assault policy requirements for institutions of higher education to also address a broader scope of intimate partner violence including stalking, dating violence, sexual violence/assault, and domestic violence offenses. The Campus SaVE Act also enhances existing prevention education and victims’ rights provisions.

Sexual Violence Risk Reduction Tips

Risk reduction tips can often take a victim-blaming tone, even unintentionally.  With no intention to victim-blame, and with recognition that only those who commit sexual violence are responsible for those actions, these suggestions may nevertheless help you to reduce your risk experiencing a non-consensual sexual act.  Below, suggestions to avoid committing a non-consensual sexual act are also offered:

  • If you have limits, make them known as early as possible.
  • Tell a sexual aggressor “NO” clearly and firmly.
  • Try to remove yourself from the physical presence of a sexual aggressor.
  • Find someone nearby and ask for help.
  • Take affirmative responsibility for your alcohol intake/drug use and acknowledge that alcohol/drugs lower your sexual inhibitions and may make you vulnerable to someone who views a drunk or high person as a sexual opportunity.
  • Take care of your friends and ask that they take care of you.  A real friend will challenge you if you are about to make a mistake.  Respect them when they do.

If you find yourself in the position of being the initiator of sexual behavior, you owe sexual respect to your potential partner.  These suggestions may help you to reduce your risk for being accused of sexual misconduct:

  • Clearly communicate your intentions to your sexual partner and give them a chance to clearly relate their intentions to you. 
  • Understand and respect personal boundaries.
  • DON’T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS about consent; about someone’s sexual availability; about whether they are attracted to you; about how far you can go or about whether they are physically and/or mentally able to consent.  If there are any questions or ambiguity then you DO NOT have consent.
  • Mixed messages from your partner are a clear indication that you should stop, defuse any sexual tension and communicate better.  You may be misreading them.  They may not have figured out how far they want to go with you yet.  You must respect the timeline for sexual behaviors with which they are comfortable.
  • Don’t take advantage of someone’s drunkenness or drugged state, even if they did it to themselves.
  • Realize that your potential partner could be intimidated by you, or fearful.  You may have a power advantage simply because of your gender or size.  Don’t abuse that power.
  • Understand that consent to some form of sexual behavior does not automatically imply consent to any other forms of sexual behavior. 
  • Silence and passivity cannot be interpreted as an indication of consent.  Read your potential partner carefully, paying attention to verbal and non-verbal communication and body language.

In campus hearings, legal terms like “guilt, “innocence” and “burdens of proof” are not applicable, but the university never assumes a student is in violation of university policy. Conduct hearings are conducted to take into account the totality of all evidence available, from all relevant sources. 

Mount Mercy reserves the right to take whatever measures it deems necessary in response to an allegation of sexual misconduct in order to protect students’ rights and personal safety. Such measures include, but are not limited to, modification of living arrangements, interim suspension from campus pending a hearing, and reporting the matter to the local police. Not all forms of sexual misconduct will be deemed to be equally serious offenses, and the university reserves the right to impose different sanctions, ranging from verbal warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense. The university will consider the concerns and rights of both the complainant and the person accused of sexual misconduct.

Victims’ Rights Provisions

The Campus SaVE Act establishes a baseline framework for institutions to respond to sexual assault and other intimate partner violence. Mount Mercy University policy will:

  • Provide students and employees who report victimization information in writing of their rights to notify law enforcement and to be assisted by campus authorities in doing so, an explanation of their rights to obtain no contact orders or enforce an order already in existence, and contact information for campus and local advocacy, counseling, health, mental health and legal assistance services.
  • Provide notification to students and employees who report victimization options for and assistance in changing academic, living, transportation and working situations if requested and reasonably available.
  • Provide information for honoring any lawful no contact or restraining order.
  • Disclose the range of possible sanctions that may be imposed following an institutional disciplinary procedure.
  • Detail procedures victims should follow if a sex offense occurs, including who to contact and information about the importance of preserving physical evidence (an existing provision of the Clery Act).
  • Disclose a summary of institutional disciplinary procedures that Accusers shall have the opportunity to request prompt proceedings, Proceedings shall be conducted by officials trained on sexual assault and other intimate partner violence issues, and shall use the preponderance of the evidence standard (which is “more likely than not” and the standard used by civil courts in the United States).
  • Both accuser and accused are entitled to be accompanied to any related meeting or proceeding by an advisor of their choice, and that both must have the same opportunity to have others present during any proceeding.
  • Both Complainant and Accused are entitled to be informed in writing of the final results within one business day of such outcome being reached.

Victims’ Protective Measures

Immediately after the Intake Meeting, the Title IX Coordinator will determine whether interim interventions and protective measure should be implemented, and, if so, take steps to implement those protective measures as soon as possible.  Examples of interim protective measures include: an order of no contact, residence hall relocation, adjustment of course schedules, a leave of absence, or reassignment to a different supervisor or position.  These remedies may be applied to one, both, or multiple parties involved.  Applicable law requires that, when taking such steps to separate the Complainant and the Accused Party, the University must minimize the burden on the Complainant and thus should not, as a matter of course, remove the Complainant from his or her job, classes or housing while allowing the Accused to remain. Violations of the Title IX Coordinator’s directives and/or protective measures will constitute related violations that may lead to additional disciplinary action. Protective measures imposed may be temporary pending the results of an investigation or may become permanent.

Primary prevention is defined to mean programming and strategies intended to stop sexual and intimate partner violence before it occurs through the changing of social norms and other approaches. Awareness programming is defined to mean programs designed to communicate the prevalence of intimate partner violence including the nature and number of cases reported at each institution in the preceding 3 calendar years.

Best Practices Report

The Campus SaVE Act provides for the collaboration of the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education to collect and disseminate best practices information about preventing and responding to sexual assault and other intimate partner violence.

Reporting

Mount Mercy expects students to report allegations incidents of sexual misconduct. These may be reported either by the complainant, or by another person with the approval of the complainant, who shall serve as a liaison with the appropriate University personnel. This may be done without revealing the name of the complainant. The information will be kept confidential to the full extent permitted by law. The complainant is encouraged to report any incidents of alleged sexual abuse to the Cedar Rapids Police Department.

Students who bring information to the University have four options:

  1. Choose to file a report with Mount Mercy University only
  2. Choose to file a report with Cedar Rapids Police Department only
  3. Choose to file a report with both Mount Mercy University and Cedar Rapids Police Department
  4. Choose to file a report with neither

Confidentiality, Privacy and Reporting Policy

Different people on campus have different reporting responsibilities and different abilities to maintain confidentiality, depending on their roles at the university and upon university policy. 

When consulting campus resources, all parties should be aware of confidentiality, privacy, and mandatory reporting in order to make informed choices. On campus, some resources can offer you confidentiality, sharing options and advice without any obligation to tell anyone unless you want them to. Other resources are expressly there for you to report crimes and policy violations and they will take action when you report your victimization to them.  A victim may seek assistance from some university officials without starting a formal process that is beyond the victim’s control, or violates her/his privacy. 

To Report Confidentially
If one desires that details of the incident be kept confidential, they should speak with on-campus mental health counselors, campus health service providers or off-campus rape crisis resources who can maintain confidentiality.  Campus counselors are available to help you free of charge, and can be seen on an emergency basis.  In addition, you may speak on and off-campus with members of the clergy and chaplains, who will also keep reports made to them confidential.

Reporting to those who cannot maintain the privacy of what you share
You can seek advice from certain resources who are not required to tell anyone else your private, personally identifiable information unless there is cause for fear for your safety, or the safety of others. These are individuals who the university has specifically designated as “confidential resources” for purposes of providing support to students. Those are the individuals listed above.

Faculty, non-counselor staff members, and administrators are mandatory reporters. If a student confides in a member of one of those groups, the employee is still required to bring that information to the appropriate Title IX officer as part of the Title IX process. This is not their choice, it is required by law. If you are unsure of someone’s duties and ability to maintain your privacy, ask them before you talk to them. They will be able to tell you, and help you make decisions about who can help you best.

Federal Statistical Reporting Obligations

Certain campus officials have a duty to report sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence and stalking for federal statistical reporting purposes (Clery Act).  All personally identifiable information is kept confidential, but statistical information must be passed along to campus law enforcement regarding the type of incident and its general location (on or off-campus, in the surrounding area, but no addresses are given) for publication in the annual Campus Security Report. This report helps to provide the community with a clear picture of the extent and nature of campus crime, to ensure greater community safety.  Mandated federal reporters include: student/conduct affairs, campus law enforcement, local police, coaches, athletic directors, residence life staff, student activities staff, human resources staff, advisors to student organizations and any other official with significant responsibility for student and campus activities. The information to be shared includes the date, the location of the incident (using Clery location categories) and the Clery crime category. This reporting protects the identity of the victim and may be done anonymously.

Federal Timely Warning Reporting Obligations

Victims of sexual misconduct should also be aware that university administrators must issue immediate timely warnings for incidents reported to them that are confirmed to pose a substantial threat of bodily harm or danger to members of the campus community.  The university will make every effort to ensure that a victim’s name and other identifying information is not disclosed, while still providing enough information for community members to make safety decisions in light of the danger. The reporters for timely warning purposes are exactly the same as detailed at the end of the above paragraph.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Here are some of the most commonly asked questions regarding University’s sexual misconduct policy and procedures.

  • Does information about a complaint remain private?
    The privacy of all parties to a complaint of sexual misconduct must be respected, except insofar as it interferes with the university’s obligation to fully investigate allegations of sexual misconduct. Where privacy is not strictly kept, it will still be tightly controlled on a need-to-know basis.  Dissemination of information and/or written materials to persons not involved in the complaint procedure is not permitted. Violations of the privacy of the complainant or the accused individual may lead to conduct action by the university.
    In all complaints of sexual misconduct, all parties will be informed of the outcome. In some instances, the administration also may choose to make a brief public announcement of the nature of the violation and the action taken, without using the name or identifiable information of the alleged victim. Certain university administrators are informed of the outcome within the bounds of student privacy (e.g., the President of the university, Dean of Students, Director of Public Safety). If there is a report of an act of alleged sexual misconduct to a conduct officer of the university and there is evidence that a felony has occurred, local police will be notified.[1] This does not mean charges will be automatically filed or that a victim must speak with the police, but the institution is legally required to notify law enforcement authorities.  The institution also must statistically report the occurrence on campus of major violent crimes, including certain sex offenses, in an annual report of campus crime statistics. This statistical report does not include personally identifiable information.
  • Will my parents be told?
    No, not unless you tell them. Whether you are the complainant or the accused individual, the University’s primary relationship is to the student and not to the parent. However, in the event of major medical, disciplinary, or academic jeopardy, students are strongly encouraged to inform their parents. University officials will directly inform parents when requested to do so by a student, in a life-threatening situation, [or if an accused individual has signed the permission form at registration which allows such communication]. 
  • Will the accused individual know my identity?
    Yes, if you file a formal complaint. Sexual misconduct is a serious offense and the accused individual has the right to know the identity of the complainant/alleged victim.  If there is a hearing, the university does provide options for questioning without confrontation, including closed-circuit testimony, Skype, using a room divider or using separate hearing rooms. 
  • Do I have to name the perpetrator?
    Yes, if you want formal disciplinary action to be taken against the alleged perpetrator. No, if you choose to respond informally and do not file a formal complaint (but you should consult the complete confidentiality policy above to better understand the university’s legal obligations depending on what information you share with different university officials). Victims should be aware that not identifying the perpetrator may limit the institution’s ability to respond comprehensively. 
  • What do I do if I am accused of sexual misconduct?
    DO NOT contact the alleged victim.  You may immediately want to contact someone who can act as your advisor; anyone may serve as your advisor. You may also contact the Dean of Students Office, which can explain the university’s procedures for addressing sexual misconduct complaints. You may also want to talk to a confidential counselor at the counseling center or seek other community assistance.  See below regarding legal representation.[2]
  • Will I (as a victim) have to pay for counseling/or medical care?
    Not typically, if the institution provides these services already.  If a victim is accessing community and non-institutional services, payment for these will be subject to state/local laws, insurance requirements, etc.
  • What about legal advice?
    Victims of criminal sexual assault need not retain a private attorney to pursue prosecution because representation will be handled by the District Attorney’s [Prosecutor’s] office. You may want to retain an attorney if you are the accused individual or are considering filing a civil action. The accused individual may retain counsel at their own expense if they determine that they need legal advice about criminal prosecution and/or the campus conduct proceeding. Both the accused and the victim may also use an attorney as their advisor during the campus’ grievance processes.
  • What about changing residence hall rooms?
    If you want to move, you may request a room change. Room changes under these circumstances are considered emergencies. It is typically institutional policy that in emergency room changes, the student is moved to the first available suitable room. If you want the accused individual to move, and believe that you have been the victim of sexual misconduct, you must be willing to pursue a formal or informal university complaint. No contact orders can be imposed and room changes for the accused individual can usually be arranged quickly.  Other accommodations available to you might include:
    1. Assistance from university support staff in completing the relocation;
    2. Arranging to dissolve a housing contract and pro-rating a refund;
    3. Assistance with or rescheduling an academic assignment (paper, exams, etc.);
    4. Taking an incomplete in a class;       
    5. Assistance with transferring class sections;
    6. Temporary withdrawal;
    7. Assistance with alternative course completion options;
    8. Other accommodations for safety as necessary.
  • What should I do about preserving evidence of a sexual assault?
    Police are in the best position to secure evidence of a crime.  Physical evidence of a criminal sexual assault must be collected from the alleged victim’s person within 120 hours, though evidence can often be obtained from towels, sheets, clothes, etc. for much longer periods of time. If you believe you have been a victim of a criminal sexual assault, you should go to the Hospital Emergency Room, before washing yourself or your clothing. The Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (a specially trained nurse) at the hospital is usually on call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (call the Emergency Room if you first want to speak to the nurse; ER will refer you). A victim advocate from the institution can also accompany you to the Hospital.  If a victim goes to the hospital, local police will be called, but s/he is not obligated to talk to the police or to pursue prosecution.  Having the evidence collected in this manner will help to keep all options available to a victim, but will not obligate him or her to any course of action.  Collecting evidence can assist the authorities in pursuing criminal charges, should the victim decide later to exercise it.
    For the Victim: the hospital staff will collect evidence, check for injuries, address pregnancy concerns and address the possibility of exposure to sexually transmitted infections.  If you have changed clothing since the assault, bring the clothing you had on at the time of the assault with you to the hospital in a clean, sanitary container such as a clean paper grocery bag or wrapped in a clean sheet (plastic containers do not breathe, and may render evidence useless).  If you have not changed clothes, bring a change of clothes with you to the hospital, if possible, as they will likely keep the clothes you are wearing as evidence.  You can take a support person with you to the hospital, and they can accompany you through the exam, if you want.  Do not disturb the crime scene—leave all sheets, towels, etc. that may bear evidence for the police to collect.
  • Will a victim be sanctioned when reporting a sexual misconduct policy violation if he/she has illegally used drugs or alcohol?
    No.  The severity of the infraction will determine the nature of the university’s response, but whenever possible the university will respond educationally rather than punitively to the illegal use of drugs and/or alcohol. The seriousness of sexual misconduct is a major concern and the university does not want any of the circumstances (e.g., drug or alcohol use) to inhibit the reporting of sexual misconduct.
  • Will the use of drugs or alcohol affect the outcome of a sexual misconduct conduct complaint?
    The use of alcohol and/or drugs by either party will not diminish the accused individual’s responsibility. On the other hand, alcohol and/or drug use is likely to affect the complainant’s memory and, therefore, may affect the outcome of the complaint. A person bringing a complaint of sexual misconduct must either remember the alleged incident or have sufficient circumstantial evidence, physical evidence and/or witnesses to prove his/her complaint. If the complainant does not remember the circumstances of the alleged incident, it may not be possible to impose sanctions on the accused without further corroborating information.  Use of alcohol and/or other drugs will never excuse a violation by an accused individual.
  • Will either party’s prior use of drugs and/or alcohol be a factor when reporting sexual misconduct?
    Not unless there is a compelling reason to believe that prior use or abuse is relevant to the present complaint.
  • What should I do if I am uncertain about what happened?
    If you believe that you have experienced sexual misconduct, but are unsure of whether it was a violation of the institution’s sexual misconduct policy, you should contact the institution’s student conduct office or victim advocate’s office.  The institution provides non-legal advisors who can help you to define and clarify the event(s), and advise you of your options.