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What To Do After
Sexual Misconduct
Occurs
A Guide for the
Cornell College
Community
Published as a service to the Cornell College community
by the
Cornell Counseling Center, Ebersole Building, 895-4292, 9/2003
The information contained in this website is accurate as of the publication
date. This information is intended for use as an overview of issues related
to sexual misconduct and resources available to those affected by sexual
misconduct. See the Cornell College Sexual Misconduct Policy for the complete policy.
Cornell College
Student Sexual Misconduct Policy
Cornell College affirms the rights of its students, faculty, and staff
to live, work, and study in an environment free from sexual misconduct
(sexual assault, sexual harassment, and sexual exploitation). To maintain
an environment of trust, care, and respect, community members set and
adhere to standards of conduct. The Cornell College Student Sexual Misconduct
Policy has been designed to uphold these values and to provide assistance
for those individuals whose rights have been violated.
Cornell College defines "sexual misconduct" as including sexual
assault (non-consensual sexual contact and non-consensual sexual intercourse),
sexual harassment and sexual exploitation. Sexual misconduct includes
a variety of behaviors, such as unwanted sexual touching, unwanted sexual
intercourse, unwelcome comments or jokes of a sexual nature, and engaging
in peeping Tommery.
"Consent" includes actions or words that indicate a willingness
to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. Consent can be
withdrawn at any time. There is no consent when sexual contact or intercourse
results from force, threat, coercion, or intimidation. There is no consent
when sexual contact or intercourse is with a person who is unable to give
consent, say "no," or otherwise resist for any reason, including
the effects of alcohol or drugs, because the person is asleep or unconscious,
is disabled, or has other mental or physical conditions.
OPTIONS
1. Obtaining Support
Confidential Resources On and Off Campus
There are people available to help you if you have been affected by an
incident of sexual misconduct within or outside of the Cornell community.
Cornell College counselors provide free counseling for survivors of sexual
misconduct. Additional resources in the area are also available to you.
The flow chart at the end of this brochure outlines how to reach these
confidential support persons.
2. Reporting Sexual Misconduct to the College
College Judicial System
As long as the individual being accused is a member of the Cornell College
community, the College may investigate and take necessary action if warranted.
Prompt reporting is crucial to help ensure full investigation of complaints.
Victims of, and witnesses to, sexual misconduct are thus strongly
encouraged to report the misconduct immediately.
Several College officials are authorized to receive reports (see flowchart
at end of brochure). The person receiving the report will ensure that
the incident is investigated through appropriate procedures.
Once a complaint is filed, resolution may occur through formal or informal
grievance procedures, depending on the situation. Options for informal
resolution include, but are not limited to utilizing accommodations such
as a change in on-campus housing or leave of absence (see statements of
student complainant's and accused student's rights in complete policy
for more information), and participating in a confidential discussion
and/or mediation of the complaint with the complainant, accused, and a
mediator appointed by the Dean of Students. Formal grievance procedures,
judicial hearing steps, and potential sanctions are outlined in the student handbook. Both the complainant and the accused will be informed of
the outcome of any judicial action.
3. Reporting Sexual Misconduct to the Police
Criminal Justice System
An individual may choose to report sexual misconduct to the police as
well as seek internal College support and/or judicial action. Any staff
member listed in the flowchart at the end of this brochure, as well as
the Student Affairs staff member on call, is available to arrange a neutral
meeting place for initial contact with the police. The College has no
control over the investigative and legal process that may result once
a crime is reported.
How Family, Friends, Faculty, and Staff
Can Help Survivors of Sexual Assault
Hearing about a sexual assault, especially of someone close to you, brings
up many intense, uncomfortable feelings. The following guidelines could
help you provide support:
* Listen non-judgmentally and give emotional support. Many sexual assault
survivors blame themselves in some way. Assure the survivor that no one
deserves to be sexually assaulted.
* Maintain confidentiality unless you are required by a Cornell policy
to report the information. If you are required to report it, tell the
survivor of your requirement.
* Do not pressure or make unwanted decisions for the person who was assaulted.
* Separate your needs and how you think you would feel in this situation
from what the person before you is needing and feeling.
* Don't ask questions that could be interpreted as blaming (e.g., "Why
didn't you fight back?").
* Don't press for details. Let the survivor talk at his or her own pace.
* Make an appropriate referral to one of the resources listed in this
brochure!
You Have Options
(What to do if you believe you have been affected by
an incident
of sexual assault or other sexual misconduct)
First and Foremost
Go to a safe place, with safe people
(e.g., best friend's room, RA's or AD's room, Harlan House "safe
room"). If you have been sexually assaulted, do not change clothes,
bathe, shower, douche, urinate, defecate, or brush your teeth. It's
understandable you may want to cleanse yourself, but first, think about
reporting the assault.
Talk with someone you trust; talking will help you begin healing,
and let people in your life know how to help you. A friend or trained
professional (e.g., RA, Student Affairs staff member on call, Counselor)
may be able to help you sort through your thoughts about reporting to
the authorities.
The following flow chart outlines the three paths you
may follow in
seeking counseling and medical support, pursuing College judicial
sanctions against a student, and/or reporting the incident to the police.
None of the paths is mutually exclusive; you may pursue any or all
forms of recourse.
You Are Here…
If you believe you have been affected by sexual misconduct.
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I. Obtaining Support
Choose this path when you would like to focus
on emotional and physical healing related to your experience.
Talking to one of the resource persons below does not constitute
reporting sexual misconduct. However, support persons can help
you explore options in case you choose to pursue judicial or criminal
complaints.
Medical help is important to: 1) ensure that you
are physically okay, 2) preserve evidence in the event that you
want to report the crime, & 3) protect you from the possibility
of sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. It is ideal
to get medical care immediately following a sexual assault. You
have up to 72 hours after an assault to take prophylactic medication
to prevent pregnancy and some infections, as well as have physical
evidence collected. Note that hospitals may alert a law enforcement
agency of a reported sexual assault. An officer may ask you to
file a report, which you may decline to do.
On Campus Confidential Resources:
These persons are not required to report sexual misconduct
to anyone.
*Counselors at the Counseling Center, x4292
*Nurses at the Health Center, x4292
*Chaplain of the College, x 4402
Off Campus Confidential Resources:
*Waypoint Rape Crisis Services,
363-5490
*Rape Victim Advocacy Program,
1-800-284-7821
*Foundation II Crisis Line, 362-2174
*Emma Goldman Clinic, 319-337-2111
*Mercy Medical Center, 398-6041
*St. Luke's Hospital, 369-7105
*Univ. of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics,
319-356-1616
*VA Medical Center, 319-338-0581
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II. Reporting Sexual Misconduct
to the College
Choose this path when you want to formally report
sexual misconduct, in order to seek judicial action. Along this
path, you may file a complaint alleging a violation of the Sexual
Misconduct Policy, and seek informal or formal grievance procedures.
The following officials are authorized to receive
reports of sexual misconduct:
*Dean of Students, x4234
*Vice President for Student Affairs, x4234
*Dean of the College,
x 4210
*Director of Human Resources, x4243
The person receiving the report will ensure that
the incident is investigated. They can also provide you with assistance
regarding your options.
For more information on reporting and judicial
procedures, see the complete Sexual Misconduct Policy.
Prompt reporting is crucial to help ensure
full investigation of complaints.
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III. Reporting Sexual Misconduct
to the Police
Choose this path if you wish to report an assault
and, possibly, pursue criminal prosecution. Again, this path is
not exclusive; that is, you may seek support and file a College
judicial complaint in addition to reporting to the police. Any
of the staff members indicated on this flow chart can help you
in arranging initial contact between you and the police. Once
you report a crime to the police, however, the College has no
control over the investigative and legal process that may result.
Mt. Vernon Police:
*Emergency, 911 (9-911 from campus)
*Non-emergency, 895-6141
Campus Safety
You can choose to call Campus Safety
at x333 for help in securing a crime scene, contacting necessary
law enforcement, and/or contacting emergency medical aid. Calling
Campus Safety will involve further contact with a College administrator
representing Student Affairs.
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