Sexual Assault Resources, Support

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Tuesday, October 26, 2021

Dear Campus Community,

The values of honor, integrity, and respect are the foundation of our campus codes of conduct, which includes the Nondiscrimination and Anti-harassment policy and procedures and our Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Procedures. These policies reflect our commitment to seeking accountability — both on the individual and community levels.

We have become aware of rumors circulating regarding sexual assault and the use of drugs to facilitate sexual assault. We want to reach out to the entire campus to share our concern about such behaviors and to let you know how the college is responding.

When rumors related to sexual violence emerge, we undertake efforts to gather information and determine who the involved parties are in order to provide support resources and reporting options for the impacted parties. We do, however, respect a person’s decision to not file a formal report and, except in rare circumstances, are unable to pursue disciplinary action against any member of our community if the impacted parties choose not to file a formal report.

The safety of our students is paramount for us, and we take all reports of violence, harassment, and discrimination very seriously. We are deeply saddened to hear that members of our community have experienced harm, and we are committed to providing support and resources to those individuals. We are also mindful that students may not always wish to make an official report, which is why on-campus confidential resources are available to students regardless of their decisions about formal reporting processes.

Confidential resources include:

Anna Thompson, Sexual Assault Response Coordinator: office (719) 227-8101; advocate on-call (719) 602-0960; sarc@coloradocollege.edu
Counseling Center: (719) 389-6093, press 2 after hours to be connected directly with a mental health provider;
counselingcenter@coloradocollege.edu
Chaplain Kate Holbrook: (719) 389-7986
Learning Development and Outreach Coordinator Noble Gough: (719) 389-6198
Student Title IX Assistance and Resource Team, START: start@coloradocollege.edu

These confidential resources can provide clear information, options, and confidential support to assist students in making decisions about filing a formal complaint/charges and seeking medical care or counseling. These resources can also assist students in managing the impact of misconduct on their academic and social functioning.

Each of us has responsibility for helping to create a community of accountability in which we identify behaviors that are harmful or inconsistent with our community values, including acknowledging when we create or contribute to harm ourselves. Being an effective Active Bystander means responding to the behaviors we see. As we work to support survivors and investigate misconduct, it is important to recognize that alcohol is the drug most frequently used to facilitate sexual assault. Whether used in conjunction with other substances or not, the presence of alcohol in social situations is a signal for us all to increase our vigilance to ensure that no one takes advantage of vulnerable individuals.

We will host an all-campus forum on Monday, Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m. (location to be determined soon) to share additional information and hear more from students about these issues. We hope this forum will be an opportunity for brave conversation where we remind each other of CC’s values — that respect and consent are priorities every day in every interaction. We hope to challenge ideas around what it means to hold oneself and peers accountable to the harm we may cause while supporting survivors directly impacted by interpersonal violence. The forum will be a place to connect as a community and empower one another to move forward understanding how one can use their unique strengths to contribute to safety of everyone on campus.

We will not discuss individual cases in this forum, but will seek to address broad issues impacting the entire campus community. In the meantime, you can learn more about the signs and behaviors to be watchful of, as well as the ways to take action, through our campus Active Bystander Intervention Campaign (BADASS: Be Aware, Decide to Act, Say Something). If you are a social host, you can find resources for planning a safer party on the Wellness Resource Center’s Resources and Handouts page (under Social Hosts, Alcohol, and Substance Use), and the Party Culture and Substances at CC page.

Sincerely,