title ix of the education amendments of 1972 provides that: no person shall, on the basis of sex, be...
TRANSCRIPT
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 provides that:
No person shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any educational program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.
Under Title IX:
• If a school knows – or even if it should know – of possible sexual harassment, including assault,
• It must take immediate and appropriate steps to investigate or otherwise determine what occurred; take prompt and effective steps reasonably
calculated to end any harassment; eliminate a hostile environment if one has been
created; and prevent harassment from occurring again.
Sexual Harassment is a form of discrimination on the basis of sex.
There are two forms of sexual harassment:
• Quid Pro Quo (this for that) harassment• Hostile environment harassment
Two Forms of Sexual Harassment
Quid Pro Quo Sexual Harassment exists when there are
• Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature; and
• Submission to or rejection of such conduct results in adverse educational or employment action.
• Offering a benefit can be just as detrimental.
Hostile Environment Sexual Harassment is
• Unwelcome verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that is
• Sufficiently severe, and persistent or pervasive that it
• Has created an intimidating, hostile or offensive academic or work environment that has the effect of unreasonably interfering with, limiting or depriving someone of the ability to participate in or benefit from an educational program or activity.
Totality of the Circumstances
• Frequency of conduct (persistent or pervasive)
• Nature and severity of conduct
• Physically threatening?• Humiliating? • Effect on mental or
emotional state?
• Directed at more than one person?
• Unreasonable?• Utterance or epithet
which is offensive?• First Amendment
considerations?
Sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence
Sexual assault and other forms of sexual violence are an extreme form of hostile environment sexual harassment.
Sexual violence includes– Sexual assault (intentional, non-consensual sexual
touching or intercourse, however slight, with any object; vaginal or oral penetration)
– Partner or dating violence– Gender-based stalking and bullying
Force – Incapacity - Consent
• Was force used to obtain sexual access?• Did the Respondent know, or should they have
known, that the Complainant was incapacitated?
• What clear words or actions by the Complainant gave the Respondent permission for the specific sexual activity that took place?
Force
• Type of force to consider:– Physical Violence– Threats – anything that would make someone do
something they wouldn’t normally have done absent the threat
– Intimidation – implied threat– Coercion – the application of an unreasonable
amount of pressure for sexual access (consider frequency, isolation, duration, intensity)
Force
• If any type of force was used – there can be no consent.
• Incapacity and Consent become irrelevant if force was used.
Incapacity
• Could the Complainant make rational, reasonable decisions? (alcohol, sleep, injury, mental/cognitive impairment)
• Could the Complainant appreciate the situation and address it consciously such that any consent was informed?
• Did the Respondent know, or should they have known of any incapacity? What would a reasonable person have known?
Consent
• What clear words or actions by the Complainant gave the Respondent permission for the specific sexual activity that took place?
• Consent is – Informed– Voluntary – Active (Silence is not Consent)– Clear Words or Actions– Specific to the mutually agreed upon activity (wallet
example)
Remember
• No means No. But Nothing also means No.• Silence and passivity do not equal permission.• Consent can be WITHDRAWN at ANY time, as
long as that withdrawal is communicated clearly by the person withdrawing consent.
Policies, Definitions, Process
– The OAAEO investigation report is organized around what questions must be addressed to establish whether there is a violation under Title IX and makes a finding.
– The Student Conduct Director will advised the panel on what questions must be addressed to establish whether a student conduct code provision has been violated.
– Critically consider whether any questions beyond those identified by OAAEO and SCCS are relevant.
New Information
• Any new information or allegations that comes up during a hearing must be redirected to the investigation process.
• The role of the Panel is to be Fair and Impartial in its analysis. – Set aside assumptions and focus on the EVIDENCE.
Protocol
• Questions about how the University responds to allegations of sexual misconduct are set forth below in general.
UO Protocol for Responding to Reported Issues of Sexual Harassment
Consistent with our obligations under Title IX, the UO protocol for responding to reported issues of sexual harassment involves:• Resources and services are made available to those who
have experienced any form of sexual harassment;• Steps are taken to stop inappropriate behavior;• The matter is investigated to the extent possible based
on available information; and• Steps are taken to prevent a recurrence of inappropriate
behavior.
How does protocol work for students?
• When a report of possible sexual harassment of a student is received, the student is contacted by the Office of the Dean of Students about services, resources and options.o Renae DeSautel, Sexual Violence Response Coordinatoro Sheryl Eyster, Associate Dean of Students
• Student has the right to choose whether or not to engage services and resources and whether to provide more information. Services are not conditional on student’s providing information.
How does protocol work for students?After contact by the Office of the Dean of Students, a student is contacted by the Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity.
• The student is informed of the university’s interest in holding accountable those who engage in sexual harassment.
• The student is invited to meet with the OAAEO to learn about the administrative processes for addressing sexual harassment.o Darci Heroy, Equal Opportunity Specialist
• The student is informed that s/he has the right to choose whether to provide information and engage in the appropriate administrative process.
How does protocol work for students?
If a student chooses to share information and participate in administrative process, s/he is asked to share what happened.
• OAAEO conducts preliminary investigation to assess whether there is evidence of a possible violation of the student conduct code (student behavior) or university policy (employee behavior).
• Matter is referred to Student Conduct and Community Standards (SCCS) for student behavior or the Affirmative Action Administrative Council (AAAC) for employee behavior for determination as to whether the evidence establishes a violation of policy.
How does protocol work for students?
If SCCS (for students) or AAAC (for employees) determines that a student or employee engaged in behavior that violates university policy, SCCS or AAAC:
• determine appropriate sanctions intended to prevent any future recurrence of the inappropriate behavior.
How does protocol work for employees?
When OAAEO receives a report that a UO employee is experiencing sexual harassment, the OAAEO contacts the employee.
• The employee is invited to meet with OAAEO to learn about UO policy and grievance processes for addressing issues of sexual harassment.
• The employee has the right to choose whether to share more information.
Formal Grievance Processes for UO Employees
Represented Employees with concerns regarding behavior by UO employees: formal process is through the collective bargaining agreement grievance process.
Unrepresented Employees with concerns regarding behavior by UO employees: formal process is through the Faculty Grievance Process.
All Employees with concerns regarding behavior by UO students: formal process is through Student Conduct and Community Standards.
Prohibited Discrimination and Sexual HarassmentContacts
ISSUE Appropriate Contact
Title IX Coordinator Penelope [email protected]
Prohibited discrimination and sexual harassment
OAAEO541-346-3123
Required employee reporting OAAEO541-346-3123
UO protocol for responding to issues of sexual harassment and sexual violence
OAAEO541-346-3123
Prohibited Discrimination and Sexual HarassmentContacts
ISSUE Appropriate Contact
Student Conduct Code Paul Shang, Assistant Vice President and Dean of [email protected]
Sandy Weintraub, DirectorStudent Conduct and Community Standards541-346-1140
Services and resources for student survivors of sexual harassment and violence
Paul Shang, Assistant Vice President and Dean of [email protected]
Sheryl Eyster, Associate Dean of [email protected]
Renae DeSautel, Sexual Violence Response and Services [email protected]
New UO Resources for Students
The University of Oregon Student Affairs Division has developed the following new resources for students:• 24/7 Crisis Line: Call 541-346-SATE (7233) to receive support and
learn options to receive help and/or report their situation.
• An Interpersonal Violence team within the University Counseling and Testing Center with counselors specially trained in working with trauma victims
New UO Resources for Students
Learn more about options at SAFE.UOREGON.EDU,
including access to a new pamphlet, Help for Students –
A Guide for the University of Oregon Community
TITLE IX - QUICK TIPS• Be mindful of information you receive
regarding behavior within the UO community that might constitute sexual harassment.
• If you have reason to believe that a student or employee has been subject to sexual harassment, notify your supervisor or the Office of Affirmative Action.
TITLE IX - QUICK TIPS
• Unless you are a supervisor receiving information regarding behavior by an employee you supervise, your duty is to report the information you have, not to investigate the reported incident.
• Failure to report limits the UO ability to provide an environment for students and employees that is free of sexual harassment.
• Failure to report when required is a performance issue, and could potentially result in personal liability.