Helping UNC Charlotte Respond to Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and - PowerPoint Presentation

Slide1

Helping UNC Charlotte Respond to Sexual Misconduct, Relationship Violence, and

Stalking

August 15, 2016

Sarah O. Edwards

Associate General CounselSlide2

Title IX

Federal law requires the university to:

Investigate allegations of sex discrimination, including sexual harassment/sexual violence, relationship violence, and stalking

Take prompt and effective steps to . . .

end the harassment/violence,

e

liminate the hostile environment,

p

revent its recurrence, and

r

emedy its effectsSlide3

Responsible Employees:

All faculty members are responsible employees and must share information about the incident with the Title IX Coordinator or a Deputy Coordinator

Students need to know that you cannot keep this information

confidential (standard syllabus language available at http://legal.uncc.edu/legal-topics/classroom-policies-and-practices) Contact Jennifer Newell, Title IX Coordinator7-6130, jnewel12@uncc.edu

What That Means for YouSlide4

Incidents to report

Sexual harassment

=

unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature that creates a hostile environment (severe, persistent, or pervasive)Gender-based harassment = unwelcome conduct based on an individual’s actual or perceived gender that creates a hostile environment (severe, persistent, or pervasive)Sexual assault = sexual act (intercourse or oral sex) or sexual contact (touching of intimate parts) without consent

Sexual exhibitionism

= engaging in sex or exposing one’s intimate parts (buttocks, genitalia, groin, breast (unless breastfeeding)) in the presence of others

Sexual exploitation

= taking abusive sexual advantage of someone (e.g.

non-consensual

explicit photographs, prostituting someone, voyeurism, etc.)Slide5

Incidents to report

Stalking

= two or more acts directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for his or her safety or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress

Relationship violence = * physical or sexual violence, or threat of such violence, against current or

former

dating partner (dating violence

)

*

crime of violence against

current or former spouse, cohabitating intimate

partner, child, parent

, or other parent of child (domestic violence)

Retaliation

= threats/intimidation/harassment against someone who engaged in protected activity (e.g. filed a complaint, is participating as a witness, etc.)

* All of these violations (except

harassment, stalking,

and retaliation) include

attempts

to commit the acts and assisting someone else in

committing

the acts.Slide6

Confidentiality

Only

these places on campus can provide confidentiality:

Counseling CenterStudent Health CenterCenter for Wellness Promotionpsychologists in Athletics DepartmentGraduate School ombuds (not

faculty

ombuds

)

Title IX Coordinator will keep information as private as possible, only involving individuals who need to know

Victims/survivors

are very much in control of the process even once their incident has been

reported (including decision of whether to involve police)Slide7

Incident ReportSlide8

Interpersonal Violence Resource Guide

• Give

victim/survivor

a printed copy (if not handy, email

it

as soon

as possible)

• Available at

http

://titleix.uncc.edu/students

• Information on resources,

confidentiality

,

DV

protection,

evidence

preservation,

relevant contact info,

student conduct process

, etc.Slide9

Student

Support Process

Resources:

counseling health or mental healthvictim advocacyAccommodations:academicUniversity housingtransportationUniversity employmentSlide10

Student

Conduct Process

(1) Complaint

(2) Meetings to discuss resources, accommodations, process(3) Complainant decides next steps(4) Title IX investigation

(5) Mutual resolution (if offered and accepted by both Respondent and Complainant)

(6) Hearing by single trained hearing officer

(7) Decision communicated to both parties

(8) Both parties can appeal

(9) Both parties are kept informed of changesSlide11

Another Note

Recent federal guidance is clear that universities must treat students consistently with their gender identities.

Using “Mr.” or “he” when addressing a transgender female (and vice versa) could be considered harassment under Title IX.

Faculty should use a student’s preferred name even if it does not conform to the class roster and regardless of whether the name has been legally changed.University is working on a preferred name policy.Slide12

Campus

SaVE

Act

Think About It online moduledistributed to all incoming studentsincludes interactive scenarios discussing sexual assault, relationship violence, stalking, and consent as well as warning signs, risk reduction, and bystander interventionWhat if a faculty member is a victim of these offenses?

PowerPoint distributed to you soon

Lori McMahon, Associate Provost for Academic Budget and

Personnel, is contact person for investigations and resolutions

If student perpetrator, process goes through Title IX Office (investigation) and Office of Student Conduct (adjudication)Slide13

Counseling Center (for students)

158 Atkins, 7-0311

Center for Wellness

Promotion 290 Student Health Center, 7‑7407

Office of Legal Affairs

3

rd

floor Cato, 7‑5732

Jennifer Newell (TIXC)

119 King, 7-6130

Lori McMahon (Associate Provost)

515 Reese, 7-5774

Dean of Students Office

217 King, 7-0345

Contact Us!