OF RECORD: Sexual Violence, Relationship Violence and Stalking Policy |
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May 27, 2014, Volume 60, No. 35 |
Thank you to those who submitted comments and suggestions regarding the proposed Policy on Sexual Violence, Relationship Violence and Stalking. After careful consideration of these comments, the policy has been adopted, effective June 1, 2014.
The new policy will be widely publicized beginning this summer.
—Amy Gutmann — Vincent Price
President Provost
Introduction
This policy, which prohibits behaviors that are more generally addressed by the University’s Sexual Harassment Policy, applies to faculty, students, staff and visitors to the University campus and facilities. All forms of sexual violence, relationship violence, domestic violence and stalking, and attempts to commit such acts, are considered to be serious misconduct and may result in disciplinary action up to and including expulsion or termination of employment. In addition, such acts violate federal, state and local laws, and perpetrators of such acts may be subject to criminal prosecution. Specific guidance for students is provided at http://www.vpul.upenn.edu/pwc/files/Sexual_Violence_Policy_Guidelines.pdf and for faculty and staff at [link to policy guidance to be developed]*.
Definitions
Sexual violence, relationship violence, domestic violence and stalking in any form, including sexual assault and rape, are prohibited by University policy. Sexual violence includes a range of behaviors in which an act of a sexual nature is taken against another individual without the individual’s consent or when the individual is unable to consent.
Important definitions appear below.
Sexual assault (including but not limited to rape) is defined as having committed any of the following acts:
• Any physical sexual contact that involves the use or threat of force or violence or any other form of coercion or intimidation;
• Any physical sexual contact with a person who is unable to consent due to incapacity or impairment, mental or physical.
“Incapacity” or “impairment” includes but is not limited to being under the influence of alcohol or drugs or being too young to consent.
Rape is defined as sexual assault involving an act of penetration and includes acquaintance rape (assailant and victim know each other).
Non-forcible sex acts include unlawful sex acts where consent is not relevant, such as sexual contact with an individual under the statutory age of consent as defined by Pennsylvania law.
Consent is an affirmative decision to engage in mutually agreed upon sexual activity and is given by clear words or actions. Consent may not be inferred from silence, passivity or lack of resistance alone. Furthermore, consent to one form of sexual activity does not imply consent to other forms of sexual activity, and the existence of a current or previous dating, marital or sexual relationship is not sufficient to constitute consent to additional sexual activity. Assent shall not constitute consent if it is given by a person who because of youth, disability, intoxication or other condition is unable to lawfully give his or her consent.
Relationship Violence, also commonly known as dating violence, is defined as a pattern of abuse committed by a person, past or present, involved in a social, sexual or romantic relationship with the victim. Relationship violence can encompass a broad range of behaviors that may include physical violence, sexual violence, emotional violence and economic violence.
Domestic Violence is defined as abuse committed against an adult who is a spouse or former spouse, cohabitant or someone with whom the abuser has a child, has an existing dating or engagement relationship, or has had a former dating or engagement relationship.
Stalking means engaging in a course directed at specific person(s) that would cause a reasonable person to (a) fear for his or her safety or the safety of others, or (b) suffer substantial emotional distress.
In determining whether the alleged conduct violates this policy, consideration will be given to the totality of circumstances, including the nature of the conduct and the context in which the alleged incident occurred.
Resources
Information, Counseling and Support
Resource offices are available to assist members of the Penn community and visitors to the campus who have been, or know someone who has been, the victim of sexual violence. The staff of these offices are available to provide information regarding options for pursuing a complaint as well as counseling and support. The information provided generally will be held in confidence, consistent with the University’s obligation to address complaints of sexual violence, unless the person making the complaint gives his or her consent to the disclosure of that information. The commitment to confidentiality does not preclude the sharing of information among responsible University administrators as needed to address the complaint or to keep members of the University community safe.
• African-American Resource Center (staff, faculty or visitors)
• Office of the Chaplain (students, staff, faculty or visitors)
• Counseling and Psychological Services (students)
• Employee Assistance Program, Behavioral Health, School of Medicine (staff or faculty)
• LGBT Center (students, staff or faculty)
• Office of the Ombudsman (students, staff or faculty)
• Penn Women’s Center (students, staff or faculty)
• Special Services Department, Division of Public Safety (students, staff, faculty or visitors)
• Student Health Service (students)
• Vice Provost for University Life (students)
Informal and Formal Complaint Resolution Resources
The University also has resources available to respond to informal and formal complaints of sexual violence. The staff of these resource offices will provide information regarding the process to be used in responding to the complaint, investigate the allegations, and ensure that appropriate action is taken.
• Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs (complaints by or regarding students, staff, faculty or visitors)
• Dean’s Offices and Department Chairs (complaints regarding faculty)
• Division of Human Resources, Staff and Labor Relations (complaints by or regarding staff members)
• Penn Police Department, Division of Public Safety (complaints by or regarding students, staff, faculty or visitors)
• Office of the Provost (complaints by or regarding students or faculty members)
• Special Services Department, Division of Public Safety (complaints by or regarding students, staff, faculty or visitors)
• Office of Student Conduct (complaints regarding students)
• Title IX Coordinator/Executive Director, Office of Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Programs (complaints by or regarding staff, students, faculty or visitors).
Rights of Complainants and Respondents
Persons who make a complaint and those who are responding to complaints have the following rights:
• The option to notify law enforcement;
• The option to have another member of the University community present during interviews that are part of a University-initiated investigation;
• To be notified of counseling and support services available;
• To be notified of options to change academic, living or work arrangements.
Policy Against Retaliation
University policy expressly prohibits retaliation against faculty, staff or students who in good faith make reports of violations of this policy. In addition, knowingly and intentionally making a false report of a violation of this policy is prohibited. Members of the Penn community who take adverse action against someone who reports a violation of this policy, intimidates, threatens or otherwise engages in retaliation is subject to disciplinary action, up to and including termination of their employment or expulsion from the University.
* Ed. Note: The placeholder will be replaced once the guidance is finalized.
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