November 26, 2018
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The College encourages prompt reporting of sexual misconduct — in person, by telephone, in writing or by email. The following information about reporting is from Section IX of Kenyon's Sexual Misconduct and Harassment Policy: Title IX, VAWA, Title VII.
The College encourages prompt reporting of Prohibited Conduct — in person, by telephone, in writing or by email. At the time a report is made, a reporting party does not have to decide whether or not to request any particular course of action, nor does a reporting party need to know how to identify what happened. Choosing to make a report, and deciding how to proceed after making the report, can be a process that unfolds over time. The College provides support that can assist a reporting party in making these important decisions, and to the extent possible, will respect a reporting party's autonomy in deciding how to proceed. As explained in greater detail in Section XI.D. (Reporting Party's Request for Anonymity or that No Action/Investigation Be Pursued), the College will balance a reporting party's interest with its obligation to provide a safe and non-discriminatory environment for all members of the College community.
The College encourages all individuals to seek assistance from medical provider(s) and/or law enforcement immediately after an incident of Prohibited Conduct, whether or not the reporting party plans to pursue criminal charges. This is the best option to ensure preservation of evidence and to begin a timely response by law enforcement.
If an individual believes that the Title IX Coordinator has engaged in Prohibited Conduct or has otherwise behaved inappropriately, the individual shall contact the Chief of Staff to discuss the complaint process.
The Title IX Coordinator or Campus Safety will assist a reporting party, at the reporting party's request, in contacting local law enforcement and will cooperate with law enforcement agencies if a reporting party decides to pursue the criminal process. A reporting party has the right to notify, or decline to notify law enforcement, under VAWA. Felonies reported to the College (except to confidential resources), however, must be reported to law enforcement by the College, as required by Ohio law (Ohio Revised Code 2921.22). Under most circumstances, the reporting party may decline to participate in a law enforcement investigation.
The College’s policy, definitions, and burden of proof may differ from Ohio criminal law. A reporting party may seek resolution through the College’s resolution process, may pursue criminal action, may choose one but not the other, or may choose both options. Neither law enforcement’s determination whether or not to prosecute a respondent nor the outcome of any criminal prosecution are determinative of whether Prohibited Conduct has occurred under this policy. Proceedings under this policy may be carried out prior to, or concurrent with, civil or criminal proceedings off campus.
At the request of law enforcement, the College may agree to briefly defer its Title IX fact gathering until after the evidence gathering stage of a criminal investigation. The College will nevertheless communicate with the reporting party regarding Title IX rights, procedural options and the implementation of interim measures to assure safety and well-being. The College will promptly resume its Title IX fact gathering as soon as it is informed that law enforcement has completed its initial gathering of evidence. The College may not, by federal law, wait to address reports of sexual and gender-based harassment and violence until any external legal processes are resolved.
The College is committed to providing a variety of welcoming and accessible means so that all instances of Prohibited Conduct will be reported.
To enable the College to respond to all reports in a prompt and equitable manner, the College encourages all individuals to report any incident directly to the Title IX Coordinator. However, the College recognizes that a student or employee may choose to report to any trusted employee of the College.
All Kenyon employees (except those who are designated as confidential resources) are considered “responsible employees" under Title IX and are required to share all known information related to a report, including the identities of the parties, with the Title IX Coordinator. In addition, student employees/volunteers who have responsibility for the welfare of other students, including Community Advisors, Sexual Misconduct Advisors, Peer Counselors, and Diversity Advisors, are required to report all known information. Other student employees who receive information within the context of their jobs are required to report to the Title IX Coordinator.
Civil Rights/Title IX Coordinator
Samantha Hughes
(740) 427-5825 or (740) 427-5820| hughess@kenyon.edu
Title IX Deputy Coordinator
Kevin Peterson
(740) 427-5245 | peterson2@kenyon.edu
Reports can also be made directly to Campus Safety (24-hour availability) during non-business hours.
Office of Campus Safety
Robert Hooper, director
Campus emergency: (740) 427-5555 (24 hours)
Security non-emergency administrative line: (740) 427-5000 or (740) 427-5109
Campus Whistleblower Hotline
1-866-943-5787
Any individual may make an anonymous report concerning an act of Prohibited Conduct. A report can be made without disclosing one’s own name, identifying the respondent, or requesting any action. Depending on the level of information available about the incident or the individuals involved, anonymous reporting may limit the College’s ability to respond or take further action.
Anonymous reports can be submitted through the College’s website. Follow-up communications with the person submitting the anonymous report are not possible unless contact information is provided.
As with all other reports, anonymous reports will be shared with the Title IX Coordinator. Where there is sufficient information, the College will ensure that anonymous reports are reviewed and included for compliance with the Clery Act.
Employees who have a duty to report information to the Title IX Coordinator under this policy may not make such reports anonymously.
All College employees, including confidential resources, are required to immediately report any knowledge or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or neglect to the Title IX Coordinator and the Director of Campus Safety. In Ohio, a child is defined as anyone under 18. In addition to notifying the Title IX Coordinator and Director of Campus Safety, College employees must make a direct report to:
Knox County Children’s Services Child Abuse Hotline
24-hour hotline: (740) 392-5437
The source of abuse does not need to be known in order to file a report, nor is there a requirement that there is actual evidence of abuse before making a report.
View the College's policy regarding the protection of minors on campus.
1. Timeliness of Report
In order to maximize the College's ability to respond promptly and effectively, all those impacted by Prohibited Conduct are encouraged to report as soon as possible. There is no time limit on reporting violations of this policy, though prompt reporting by responsible employees is expected. If the reporting party or respondent is no longer a student or employee at the time of the report, the College may not be able to take disciplinary action against the respondent, but it will still seek to meet its Title IX obligation by providing support for the reporting party and taking other appropriate action to eliminate, prevent and address the effects of the Prohibited Conduct. The College will also assist a reporting party in identifying external reporting options.
2. Amnesty for Personal Use of Alcohol or Other Drugs
The College seeks to remove barriers to reporting. The College will offer any student who reports or experiences Prohibited Conduct limited immunity from being charged for policy violations related to the personal ingestion of alcohol or other drugs, provided that any such violations did not and do not place the health and safety of any person at risk. The College may choose, however, to pursue educational or therapeutic remedies for those individuals.