Discussion List for campus-based and allied personnel working to end gender-based violence on campus.

[Juliette Grimmett <>]

Thank you, Molly for asking this question.  This question is coming up all over the country.  I recently did some work with Rollins College in FL.  This is an example of the timely warning they have sent out.  While at first I felt it had too much information, in speaking with their campus security I found out that they actually work with the survivor to write up the alert.  They let him/her decide how much information and what information they feel comfortable with.  I thought it was a really novel approach to working with non-stranger assault cases.   

Though the 68% stat is incorrect, I really like the thoughtful paragraphs on consent and drug-facilitated SA as well as the and the list of don'ts.  These were developed by several women and gender studies students.  I would love to hear your thoughts on this approach.

http://www.rollins.edu/safety/clery_act_compliance/timely_notices.html

Sexual Assault - Forcible Rape

Case # 14-080

February 23, 2014

 

In compliance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act (the “Clery Act”), 20 U.S.C. 1092 (f), Rollins College issues timely notices to notify the campus community of Clery Act crimes or other serious incidents that the College determines represent a serious and ongoing threat to the campus. The College may distribute timely notices using a variety of means, including emails, text  messages, flyers, and website announcements posted on the Campus Safety website (http://www.rollins.edu/safety/clery_act_compliance/timely_notices.html .

 

The Rollins College Campus Safety Department has received a report of a sexual assault – forcible rape, that occurred in the early morning hours of Sunday, February 23, 2014 between two undergraduate resident students. Due to the initial collection of information, spring break, and wanting to confer with the complainant upon her return, the timely notification was delayed.

 

The incident took place inside of a residential hall on campus and an investigation is underway to collect all pertinent information. According to initial statements, the two parties were acquaintances and were both under the influence of alcohol. It was reported that consent was not given, or could not be given due to the level of intoxication, by the complainant to engage in sexual activity. Rollins College has offered resources and advocacy to both parties as they work through this process.

 

Acquaintances, friends, or current/former romantic partners may assume that since they have had prior intimate encounters, they do not require consent for future sexual acts. Each sexual act requires verbal consent. Tactics used by a respondent known to the complainant may include intruding into the complainant’s personal space physically, though seemingly accidental touches or casual hugs or touches. The respondent may play on the complainant’s emotional vulnerability or empathy by “sharing” personal information or stories so that he/she lowers their defenses. The complainant may feel uneasy and uncomfortable, but the respondent assures them that nothing is wrong and continues their assault, ignoring requests to stop.

 

On college campuses, alcohol plays a large role in sexual assault and rape. An attacker, often someone the person knows, may encourage or force a complainant to drink alcohol and become intoxicated or may take advantage of a complainant’s intoxication to forcibly assault him/her without consent. Respondents will seek out venues where intoxicated potential victims are likely to be, such as parties and bars. Some will put date rape drugs, such as GHB, Ketamine, or Rohypnol, into a person’s drink to incapacitate them. GHB, also known as Liquid Ecstasy, relaxes a person’s inhibitions, causing drowsiness, and may result in a loss of consciousness. Ketamine, also known as Special K, makes a person feel as if they are separated from their body and detached from reality. Rohypnol, or Roofies, causes a person to become drowsy, dizzy, and lack motor control and coordination. Respondents may also use pressure to try drugs as part of a social event before luring them away from the group.

 

Approximately 66% of rapes are committed by acquaintances. To reduce the risk of similar crimes from happening, we recommend that everyone familiarize themselves with what constitutes sexual assault and, as a community, be vigilant in stopping it. For example:

 

-          Always seek consent. Stop your sexual advances if the other person indicates no interest or if they say "no". Engaging in any type of sexual activity without the explicit consent of your  partner is sexual assault. If either party is under the influence of alcohol, consent cannot be given.

 

-          The absence of a "no" is not a "yes."

 

-           Avoid engaging in, supporting, or encouraging sexual harassment.

 

-          Do NOT use threats or coercion to engage in sexual activity.

 

-          Call for help if you witness a violent crime.

 

-          Do not take advantage of someone who is passed out, incoherent, or otherwise incapacitated.

 

If you have been the victim of a sexual assault, Campus Safety encourages you to report it. If you would like the help of a confidential victim advocate for your own situation or someone you know, please contact:

 

-          Rollins College Counseling and Psychological Services, 407-628-6340

 

If you would like to report a sexual assault or learn about sexual violence prevention, please contact any of the following offices for more information:

 

       -      Rollins College Campus Safety Department, 407-646-2999

       -      Rollins College Residential Life, 407-646-2649

       -      Winter Park Police Department, 407-644-1313

       -      Orange County Victim Services Unit, 407-497-6701

 

External resources for sexual violence prevention:

 

       -       Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

       -       National Sexual Violence Resource Center

       -       (RAINN) Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network

 

 

 

For the purposes of this notification, complainant refers to the person who reports to the College that he/she has been the subject of sexual misconduct or harassment and respondent refers to the person who is reported to have committed acts of sexual misconduct or harassment.

On Tue, Sep 2, 2014 at 10:46 PM, McLay, Molly Margaret <> wrote:

Hi there,

Our university has a group of folks meeting from various campus units (police, student discipline, housing, public affairs, legal, and the women's center) to discuss how best to approach Clery-required timely crime alerts. The question of acquaintance sexual assault in these alerts has come up as of late, and we had some questions that we're each asking our respective listservs:

• Do you send out timely crime alerts for acquaintance sexual assaults?
• If not, what is the rationale/justification?
• If so...
  • How detailed are you with locations in the alerts? 
  • Do you use some type of caveat with the alert?  Example “This alert is being put out with limited information so as not to release any type of identifying information about the victim, but to be used as a tool to increase safety awareness and precautionary behavior” or something similar… 
  • Specifically if occurs in university housing, and several concerned parents begin calling housing administration to try to figure out which dorm it happened in, do you have housing refer back to your police department or unit that released the crime alerts, and then in turn would you have them FOIA the information?  

Feedback and best practices from other institutions would be most helpful. Thank you!

Molly M. McLay, MSW, LSW

Assistant Director

University of Illinois Women's Resources Center

Office of Inclusion and Intercultural Relations

2nd Floor, MC-302

703 S. Wright Street

Champaign, IL 61820

(p) 217-333-3137

(f) 217-244-3167

http://www.go.illinois.edu/wrc

--

Peace,

Juliette Grimmett, MPH
Chrysalis Network, Founder
(919) 624-9575
www.chrysalisnetwork.com 

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