Sexual Misconduct and Safety Campus Resource Guide At Western Michigan University, building a safe environment for you is a campuswide commitment.
The University expects all community members to help create a safe, welcoming and respectful environment on campus. In 2015, WMU implemented the Sexual and Gender-Based Harassment and Violence, Intimate Partner Violence, and Stalking Policy and Procedures. This effort affirms the University community’s commitment to the values of transparency, timely communication, and accountable and responsible behavior within an ethical, compassionate, diverse and respectful environment.
What should I Know Your Title IX Rights do if I witness Report the Incident or hear of a violation of IT’S THE LAW. the Sexual Misconduct There are several ways to report sexual misconduct. You can use Title IX states “No person in the United States shall, on the basis Why report? more than one option for reporting or you can select the one with of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits Reporting allows the Policy? which you are most comfortable, but it’s important to report what of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education University to take steps If anyone is in immediate you’ve experienced, witnessed or heard. program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” You to prevent it from danger, dial 911 or call have a right to education and employment free from sexual happening again. WMU Public Safety (269) violence and harassment. If your rights are violated, you are 387-5555. If you are made HOW TO REPORT entitled to accommodations, a thorough investigation, a timely aware of an incident, If you are a victim/survivor, a witness or have learned of a violation response and protection from retaliation. report it to the Title IX secondhand, report the incident to one or more of these places. Coordinator, Felicia Who is required Crawford (269) 387-6316, WHAT BEHAVIORS ARE COVERED BY WMU’S to report? [email protected]. TITLE IX COORDINATOR WMU DEPARTMENT OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT POLICY? Under Title IX, certain Felicia Crawford PUBLIC SAFETY [email protected] Sexual and gender-based harassment, sexual assault, non- classifications of 511 Monroe Street consensual sexual contact, sexual exploitation, harm to others, employees are known as What if I’m not Office of Institutional Equity (269) 387-5555 stalking, intimate partner violence and retaliation are among “responsible employees” designated as 1220 Trimpe Building the prohibited behaviors. and are obligated (269) 387-6316 to report all known a “responsible LOCAL OFF-CAMPUS LAW details of an incident employee”? WHO IS COVERED UNDER THE ENFORCEMENT WMU POLICY? to the campus Title IX Anyone aware of an of sexual Coordinator. Responsible ONLINE REPORTING Call 911 or the City of WMU students; WMU faculty, staff and administrators; members assault or other violation misconduct (may be employees include Kalamazoo Department of of the WMU Board of Trustees; consultants, vendors and others of the University’s Sexual completed anonymously) at all faculty members, Public Safety engaged to do business with the University; guests and visitors; Misconduct Policy should wmich.edu/equity/ instructors, graduate (269) 337-8994 and other third parties specified in the policy. report the incident. sexualmisconduct assistants, administrators, The University expects Kalamazoo County supervisors, advisors, you to report criminal Sheriff’s Office WHAT LOCATIONS ARE COVERED residence life and student wrongdoing under its Duty (269)383-8821 BY WMU POLICY? affairs staff, coaches and to Report Criminal Acts Township of Kalamazoo WMU policy covers conduct on campus, off campus when any their staff, public safety Policy found at Police Department person involved is a member of the campus community, in settings officials and others as wmich.edu/policies/ (269) 343-0551 where WMU-sponsored events or programs take place and online. designated in the policy. criminal
Investigation Process Care and Support Learn More
No fee for services unless indicated. WMU is committed INVESTIGATION PROCESS 24-hour Confidential Comprehensive Crisis Support, The Office of Health Promotion and Survivors’ mental and Forensic Exam and Counseling to the prevention of Education at Sindecuse Health Center A trained, neutral Title IX investigator will explain the reporting/ physical health, safety and • YWCA Sexual Assault Program, (269) 385-3587 sexual harassment, offers educational opportunities regarding investigation process to the person bringing forth the report. The protection are a top priority sexual violence, sexual and gender-based harassment investigator will listen and discuss temporary actions (interim measures) for WMU. Survivors may Crisis Support Services stalking and intimate On campus: and available resources. In the investigation process, individual need a range of supportive and violence, intimate partner violence • Counseling Services, Sindecuse Health Center, partner violence interviews will be conducted with each person involved, including any services. Immediate and stalking. The focus is on primary confidential, (269) 387-1850 through education medical care following a prevention, bystander intervention and witnesses. Both parties will be notified of the investigation outcome. A • Student Affairs Case Manager, private, and awareness reporting and referral support. finding of “responsible” for violation of the sexual misconduct policy will sexual assault includes (269) 387-2150 programs. be forwarded for disciplinary review to the Office of Student Conduct or an assessment of possible injuries and, if applicable, Off campus: Human Resources/Collective Bargaining, as appropriate. A person may • FIRE (Fighting Ignorance and Rape through Education) also choose to work with Public Safety to file a police report and possibly testing for sexually • Gryphon Place 24-hour HELP line, confidential, transmitted infections and Dial 211 is a peer-education program that conducts presentations, pursue criminal charges while the University investigation is underway. pregnancy. Survivors of training and awareness events on relationships, consent, sexual violence may wish Confidential Medical Services violence (dating and domestic), stalking, sexual assault, sexual On campus: CONFIDENTIALITY VS. PRIVACY to have forensic evidence harassment, dehumanization and bias incidents. • Sindecuse Health Center, fee for service, All employees are expected to uphold privacy, meaning information is collected by a trained Sexual (269) 387-3287 • The Western HEROES program offers training on bystander shared carefully on a strict need-to-know basis. Only a small number Assault Nurse Examiner intervention skills to address dehumanization, violence (dating, of employees, such as licensed counselors and medical staff providing (SANE). If possible, the exam Off campus: domestic, hazing), sexual harassment, relationships, alcohol treatment may offer confidentiality (assistance without responsibility should be completed within • Borgess Health, fee for service, (269) 226-4815 for reporting). 120 hours following an • Bronson Healthcare, fee for service, (269) 341-6386 and other drugs and mental health. assault. Evidence collected • Theatre for Community Health is a peer-education program by a qualified nurse will Confidential Mental Health Counseling If someone confides a sexual misconduct incident to a University that produces applied theater performances and videos on be preserved indefinitely, and Information responsible employee and asks that employee not to tell anyone else, On campus: relationships, alcohol and other drugs, dehumanization/ and turned over to law • Counseling Services, Sindecuse Health Center, violence prevention, consent and bystander intervention. the employee will need to assure the person that their privacy will be enforcement only if and (for students) (269) 387-1850 • Sexual Health Peer Education leads presentations and protected, but the incident must be reported. The University is required when the survivor chooses. by law to investigate and take appropriate action when a responsible awareness events on relationships, sexuality, consent and Off campus: employee has knowledge of an incident. The person may decide not • Employee Assistance Program (for employees), healthy communications. to proceed with a criminal report or may elect not to participate in a (269) 372-4500 or (800) 523-0591 Additional programs are available at wmich.edu/healthcenter/ University investigation, but the University may still be obligated to healthpromotion investigate and take necessary actions to keep the campus community Peer Education, Support, Information and Resources safe and free from sexual violence and discrimination. for Students and Employees On campus: All students, faculty and staff have access to online training modules on • FIRE Place Resource and Support Center, preventing all forms of discrimination, harassment and violence. Visit Concerns about a confidentiality request should be discussed with Sindecuse Health Center, private, (269) 387-2990 wmich.edu/sexualmisconduct/education to learn more. WMU’s Title IX Coordinator when reporting an incident.
This guide is to help faculty, staff and students understand the University’s commitment to a safe campus and to alert all campus community members to their responsibilities in reporting and preventing sexual misconduct. All forms of unwanted sexual behavior are prohibited in educational settings by the 1972 federal law known as Title IX. Review the WMU policy on sexual misconduct at wmich.edu/sexualmisconduct
Published 2016