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Sexual Misconduct Resources

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IF THIS IS AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911.

If you or someone you know is the victim of sexual harassment, sexual violence/assault, or domestic violence/intimate partner violence, please use these resources.

Saint Leo University, in line with its core values—especially, respect, integrity, community, and excellence— is committed to providing work and study environments that are free of discrimination, including sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, and sexual violence.

Title IX of the Education Amendment of 1972 protects students from sex discrimination in educational programs and activities at institutions that receive federal financial assistance (see 20 U.S. Code 1681). Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 is a federal law that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees on the basis of sex, race, color, national origin, and religion. Titles IX and VII apply to Saint Leo University programs and activities.

Reporting and Confidential Disclosing Sexual Violence

Saint Leo University encourages victims of sexual violence to talk to somebody about what happened – so victims can receive the support they need, and so the University may respond appropriately. Individual employees on campus have different abilities to maintain a victim’s confidentiality. 

 

  1. Some employees are required to maintain near complete confidentiality; talking to them is sometimes called a “privileged communication” (i.e. Licensed Mental Health Counselor)
  2. Other employees may talk to a victim in confidence, and generally only report to the University that an incident occurred without revealing any personally identifying information. Disclosures to these employees will not trigger the University to investigate into the incident against the victims wishes.
  3. Thirdly, some employees are required to report all details of an incident (including identities of both victim and alleged perpetrator) to the Title IX coordinator. A report to these employees (called “responsible employees”) constitutes a report to the University and generally obligates the University to investigate the incident and take the appropriate actions to address the situation.



This policy is intended to make students aware of the various reporting and confidential disclosure options available to them – so they may make informed choices about where to turn should they become a victim of sexual violence. Saint Leo University encourages victims to talk with someone identified in one or more of these groups.

Options

  • Privileged and Confidential Communications
    • Professional and Pastoral Counselors: professional, licensed counselors and pastoral counselors who provide mental-health counseling to members of the school community (and including those who act in that role under the supervision of a licensed counselor) are not required to report any information about an incident to the Title IX coordinator without a victim’s permission. 

A victim who speaks with a professional counselor, pastor, or advocate must understand that, if the victim wants to maintain confidentiality, the University will be unable to conduct an investigation into the particular incident or pursue disciplinary action against the alleged perpetrator.



Even so, these counselors and advocates will still assist the victim in receiving other necessary protection and support, such as victim advocacy, academic support or accommodations, disability, health/wellness or mental health services, and changes to living, working or course schedules. A victim who at first requests confidentiality may later decide to file a complaint with the school or report the incident to local law enforcement, and thus have the incident fully investigated. These counselors and advocates will provide the victim with assistance if the victim wishes to do so.



Note: While these professional and non-professional counselors and advocates may maintain a victim’s confidentiality vis-à-vis Saint Leo University, they may have reporting or other obligations under state law.



Also Note: If the college determines that alleged perpetrator(s) pose a serious and immediate threat to the college community, certain professional staff may be called upon to issue a timely warning to the community. Any such warning should not include any information that identifies the victim.

Reporting to Responsible Employees

A “responsible employee” is a college employee who has the authority to redress sexual violence, who has the duty to report incidents of sexual violence or other student misconduct, or who a student could reasonably believe has this authority or duty.



When a victim tells a responsible employee about their incident of sexual violence, the victim has the right to expect the college to take immediate and appropriate steps to investigate what happened and to resolve the matter promptly and equitably.



A responsible employee must report to the Title IX coordinator all relevant details about the alleged sexual violence shared by the victim and that the college will need to determine what happened – including the names of the victim and alleged perpetrator(s), any witnesses, and any other relevant facts, including the date, time and specific location of the alleged incident.



To the extent possible, information reported to a responsible employee will only be shared with people responsible for handling the University’s response to the report. A responsible employee should not share information with law enforcement without the victim’s consent or unless the victim has also reported the incident to law enforcement.



The following employees (or categories of employees) are the University’s responsible employees:

  • All Residence Life professional and student staff (RAs to Director)
  • Assistant and Associate Vice President of Student Services
  • All Campus Safety and Security Officers

Before a victim reveals any information to a responsible employee, the employee should ensure that the victim understands the employee’s reporting obligations- and, if the victim wants to maintain confidentiality, direct the victim to confidential resources.



If the victim wants to tell the responsible employee what happened but also maintain confidentiality, the employee should tell the victim that the college will consider the request, but cannot guarantee that the college will be able to honor it. In reporting the details of the incident to the Title IX coordinator, the responsible employee will also inform the coordinator of the victim’s request for confidentiality



Responsible employees will not pressure a victim to request confidentiality, but will honor and support the victim’s wishes, including a request for the college to fully investigate an incident. By the same token, responsible employees will not pressure a victim to make a full report if the victim is not ready to.

Requesting Confidentiality from the College

How the College Will Weigh the Request and Respond

If a victim discloses an incident to a responsible employee but wishes to maintain confidentiality or requests that no investigation into a particular incident be conducted or disciplinary action taken, the college must weigh that request against the college’s obligation to provide a safe, non-discriminatory environment for all students, including the victim.



If the college honors the request for confidentiality a victim must understand that the college’s ability to meaningfully investigate the incident and pursue disciplinary action against the alleged perpetrator(s) may be limited.



Although rare, there are times when the college may not be able to honor a victim’s request in order to provide a safe, non-discriminatory environment for all students



The college has designated the following individual(s) to evaluate requests for confidentiality once a responsible employee is on notice of the alleged sexual violence:

The university is in the process of hiring a new Title IX Coordinator, in the interim please contact:

Mark Nash: 352-588-8647

Monica Kessel: 352-588-8646

Alejandra Goitia: 352-588-8151

Title IX Coordinator

33701 SR 52

Saint Leo, FL 33574

(352) 588-8406

titleixcoordinator@saintleo.edu

Title IX Coordinator

Duties and Responsibilities

Title IX Coordinator serves as the University Equity Officer. Monitoring and oversight of overall implementation of Age Discrimination Act and Title IX compliance at the University. Works with Student Services, Human Resources, and Professional Development, as applicable, on the coordination of training, education, communication, and administration of grievance procedures for faculty, staff, students, and other members of the university community.

Director of Campus Security & Safety

Vincent (Mike) D'Ambrosio

Director of Campus Security & Safety

Saint Leo University

Saint Leo, FL 33574

352.588.8439

vincent.dambrosio@saintleo.edu

Department of Intercollegiate Athletics Gender Equity

Barbara Wilson

Senior Woman Administrator (SWA)/Assistant Athletic Director - Sports Medicine

33701 SR 52

St. Leo, FL  33574

Ph:  352.588.8222

barbara.wilson@saintleo.edu



If you have a complaint against another student for discrimination of any type, including but not limited to disability discrimination, age discrimination, sexual harassment, sex discrimination, or sexual assault, you should contact the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs. The Associate Vice President for Student Affairs is responsible for compliance for matters involving students, including training, education, communication, and administration of the Code of Student Conduct for all complaints against students. If you are a student with a

complaint against a faculty or staff member, or visitor, you should contact the Regulatory & Equity Administrator, listed above.



When weighing a victim’s request for confidentiality and for no investigation or discipline to be pursued, the Associate Vice President for Student Affairs or designee will consider a range of factors, including the following:

  • The increased risk that the alleged perpetrator will commit additional acts of sexual or other violence
  • Whether the sexual violence was perpetrated with a weapon;
  • Whether the victim is a minor;
  • Whether the University possesses other means to obtain relevant evidence of the sexual violence (e.g. security cameras or personnel, physical evidence);
  • Whether the victim’s report reveals a pattern of perpetration (e.g., via illicit use of drugs or alcohol) at a given location or by a particular group.

The presence of one or more of these factors could lead the college to investigate and, if appropriate, pursue disciplinary action. If none of these factors is present, the college will likely respect the victim’s request for confidentiality.



If the University determines that it cannot maintain a victim’s confidentiality, the University will inform the victim prior to starting an investigation and will, to the extent possible, only share information with people responsible for handling the college’s response.



The University will remain ever mindful of the victim’s well-being, and will take ongoing steps to protect the victim from retaliation or harm and work with the victim to create a safety plan. Retaliation against the victim, whether by students or University employees, will not be tolerated. The University will also:

  • Assist the victim in accessing other available advocacy, academic support, counseling, disability, health or mental services, and legal assistance both on and off campus
  • Provide other security and support, which could include issuing a no-contact order, helping arrange a change of living or working arrangements or course schedules (including for the alleged perpetrator pending the outcome of an investigation) or adjustments for assignments or tests; and
  • Inform the victim of the right to report a crime to campus or local law enforcement – and provide the victim with assistance if the victim wishes to do so.

The University may not require a victim to participate in any investigation or disciplinary proceeding.



Because the University is under continuing obligation to address the issue of sexual violence campus-wide, reports of sexual violence (including non-identifying reports) will also prompt the college to consider broader remedial action – such as increased monitoring, supervision or security at locations where the reported sexual violence occurred; increasing education and prevention efforts, including to targeted population groups; conducting climate assessments/victimization surveys’ and/or revisiting its policies and practices.



If the University determines that it can respect a victim’s request for confidentiality, the University will also take immediate action as necessary to protect and assist the victim.

Take Back the Night and Other Public Awareness Events

Public awareness events such as “Take Back the Night,” the Clothesline Project, candlelight vigils, protests, “survivor speak outs” or other forums in which students disclose incidents of sexual violence, are not considered notice to the University of sexual violence for purposes of triggering its obligation to investigate any particular incident(s). Such events may, however, inform the need for campus-wide education and prevention efforts, and the University will

provide information about students’ Title IX rights at these events.

Off-Campus Counselors and Advocates

Off-campus counselors, advocates and health care providers will also generally maintain confidentiality and not share information with the University unless the victim requests the disclosure and signs a consent or waiver form.

Education Center and Center for Online Learning Title IX Resources

If you are the victim of a crime, Saint Leo University is ready to assist you in the manner that you determine is best for you. If you desire confidentiality, there are campus and community resources that will respect that decision.

View State-Specific Resources

Saint Leo University Sexual Misconduct Information Guide

View Sexual Misconduct Guide

What is Consent?

  • Consent is a voluntary agreement to engage in sexual activity;
  • Someone who is incapacitated cannot consent; 
  • Past consent does not imply future consent;
  • Silence or an absence of resistance does not imply consent;
  • Consent to engage in sexual activity with one person does not imply consent to engage in sexual activity with another;
  • Consent can be withdrawn at any time; and
  • Coercion, force, or threat of either invalidates consent.

Impaired is defined as temporary incapacity to evaluate or control conduct, because the person is unconscious, asleep, intoxicated or under the influence of other drugs or for any other reason physically unable to communicate or grant consent. 

Bystander Intervention

Direct

Step in and address the situation directly. This might look like saying, "That's not cool. Please stop." or "Hey, leave them alone." This technique tends to work better when the person that you're trying to stop is someone that knows and trusts you. 

Distract

Distract either person in the situation to intervene. This might look like saying, "Hey, aren't you in my English class?" or "Who wants to go get food at the Lair?"

Delegate

Find others who can help you to intervene in the situation. This might look like asking a friend to distract one person in the situation while you distract the other ("splitting" or "defensive split"), asking someone to go sit with them and talk. If you didn't know either person in the situation, you could also ask around to see if someone else does and check in with them. See if they can go talk to their friend, text their friend to check in, or intervene.

Please remember that your safety is of the utmost importance. If a situation that threatens physical harm to yourself or another student occurs, ask someone for help; contact Campus Security & Safety at 352-588-8333 (ext. 8333); or contact law enforcement at 911.

Community Resources

Additional Title IX resources and services are available in the surrounding areas.

External Title IX Resources

The following links provide quick access to common Title IX related resources.

Education-Prevention Programs

As a part of Saint Leo University’s commitment to ongoing Title IX education prevention, and other community campaigns the following links provide information to support student, staff and faculty involvement.