CAMPUS SERVICES

Case Western Reserve University is a community dependent upon trust and respect for its constituent members: students, faculty, and staff. Sexual assault is a violation of that trust and respect. It will not be tolerated.
Sexual assault is a serious crime. Any non-consensual physical contact of a sexual nature is a sexual assault. Rape, statutory rape, incest, sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and fondling are examples of sexual assault.
Lack of consent is the crucial factor in any sexual assault. Persons forced to engage in sexual contact by force, threat of force, or coercion have not consented to contact. Persons acting under the influence of alcohol or other substances may be incapable of consent. Age or mental capacity may render consent impossible.

The University strongly encourages persons who have been sexually assaulted to report the assault, to seek assistance and to pursue judicial action or sanctions for their own protection and that of the entire campus community.

Reporting
To preserve the option of pursuing criminal sanctions or CWRU internal disciplinary processes, a person should report the sexual assault to the University and/or the local police. The University recognizes that a person who has been sexually assaulted retains the right not to pursue either criminal prosecution or a University judicial proceeding. However, the University strongly encourages those who have been sexually assaulted to pursue internal disciplinary and/or criminal processes. If a person who has been sexually assaulted chooses to pursue internal disciplinary procedures, he or she can expect a supportive response by the University throughout the disciplinary process. Reporting options are listed below. In addition, graduate and professional students can report an incident of sexual assault to their respective student affairs office.

Once a report of sexual assault is made, the University may be obligated to alert the campus community of the report. The University is obligated to alert the campus of crimes that it determines represent a threat to members of the campus community. In making such determinations, the University will consider the safety of students, faculty, and staff, as well as the privacy interests of all persons involved in such incidents. Regardless of the action taken by the University, the names of any person involved will not appear on Security Alerts. The University urges anyone who has been sexually assaulted to report the incident at any time. However, prompt reporting may preserve options that delayed reporting does not, including the preservation of physical evidence, crisis counseling, and immediate police response.

Medical and Psychological Assistance
Emergency Room Examination: Any person who has been sexually assaulted may go directly to the University Hospital Emergency Room or any local hospital for medical attention. Please note: The preservation of physical evidence is critical in the event of criminal prosecution and may be useful if University disciplinary action is pursued.

University Health Services: Students can seek further treatment at the University Health Services for any medical concerns, including sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy testing.

Counseling: Counseling may be pursued following a sexual assault, no matter how much time has elapsed since the incident. Counseling services are confidential except when disclosure is necessary to prevent imminent harm to self or others. Available options, on and off-campus are listed below. To inquire about other community counseling resources, please call 368-5872. All inquiries are confidential.

University Counseling Services

Educational Services
The University offers courses designed to give students the information and skills needed to protect themselves from harm. The Physical Education Department offers a Personal Safety Awareness class every semester. This seven-week class provides guest speakers from campus departments and various community service agencies. Topics covered include: crime prevention, campus and community resources and services, victim rights, the criminal justice system and self-defense. The Protective Services Department offers a self-defense class for women only. The Rape Aggression Defense System (RAD) class is offered periodically throughout the year for all female students, faculty, staff and guests. This class teaches practical skills in identifying and avoiding physical assault as well as methods for any woman to defend herself.

University Sanctions/Criminal Prosecution
Anyone who has been sexually assaulted may choose to pursue both criminal prosecution and University disciplinary processes. Regardless of whether criminal charges are filed, all members of the University community accused of sexual assault may be subject to University judicial action or sanctions, up to and including expulsion or termination from employment. In the case of student judicial proceedings, both the accused and the accuser are entitled to due process, to the presence of an advocate during hearings and to notification of the outcome of the proceedings.

Accommodations
In the aftermath of a sexual assault, the University will accommodate requests for alternative living, working and academic arrangements as available and appropriate.

Due to the sensitive and traumatic nature of sexual assault, specially trained members of the University are available to help anyone who has been sexually assaulted understand the many options open to him or her. To contact a member of the Sexual Assault Response Team, call: