Responding Party
If you have been accused of sexual misconduct or harassment:
- Talk to someone you can trust, such as a friend, family member, counselor, or member of the clergy.
- Do not contact the reporting party or alleged victim through any means, for any reason —in person, by phone, by mail, by social media, via electronic communication, or through someone else. Abide by the requirements of the no contact order you may have signed.
- Ask for support. Utilize the Title IX Coordinator or a Title IX Process Advisor to answer questions about the Title IX policy and the process used for investigating reports of sexual misconduct and harassment.
- Be mindful that retaliation against a reporting party or witness, or any behavior that could be interpreted as such, will not only make the situation worse but is also unlawful and could result in additional complaints of misconduct and possible corrective action.
In the College's investigation process, the accused individual is referred to as the responding party. The responding party bill of rights can be found here.