Match support to your needs: There is no “right,” “wrong,” or “normal” way to react after experiencing sexual harassment or violence. Moreover, it’s common for someone’s needs to change over time. If you’ve experienced an incident of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, stalking, or another form of sexual misconduct, and you’re seeking help, the College’s priority is to help you identify the support that best fits your needs.
Support is a broad concept: Support can mean many things, and everyone’s needs are different. Support can address emotional, psychological, medical, and/or academic needs. Support may also include getting information about making a formal report to the College or to law enforcement. Some want to move forward with a formal process right away, while others want to think about whether this is right for them. Some are initially opposed to filing a complaint but change their mind, and others decide that taking action will compromise their healing process.
Be empowered: Understand privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity. We recognize that it’s important for those impacted by sexual harassment and sexual violence to feel empowered to make their own decisions about support and next steps, including the decision about whether to pursue a formal claim against the accused individual. We think understanding the concepts of privacy, confidentiality, and anonymity in the Title IX context can foster a sense of control and empowerment. These concepts are related, but have distinct meanings and apply to support providers in different ways.
| Privacy | Privacy generally means that information communicated about an incident of sexual harassment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, or stalking will only be shared with individuals who need to know the information in order to provide support or assistance. Many employees at Scripps and in the Consortium are Responsible Employees, meaning they have a duty to report information they receive to the Scripps Title IX Coordinator (or, in some cross-campus matters, to the Title IX Coordinator of another Claremont College), but they are also required to protect your privacy.
All employees of the College other than those designated as confidential are Responsible Employees. A Responsible Employee is an employee who has the duty to report alleged discrimination, harassment, and/or sexual misconduct to an appropriate College official who has that authority. Any Responsible Employee who receives information regarding alleged discrimination, harassment, and/or sexual misconduct is required to report the matter to the Title IX Coordinator. Please Note: Reports to Scripps Responsible Employees will only be shared with the Scripps Title IX Coordinator, regardless of whether the accused’s identity is disclosed. However, if the accused’s identity is disclosed to Campus Safety or other Consortial Responsible Employees, the accused’s school will be informed of the report. If you’re in doubt about whether someone is a Responsible Employee, you may ask them before proceeding with the conversation. If there is still a question, you may email the Scripps Title IX Coordinator at [email protected] to ask for clarification without disclosing any details about an incident, including names of the parties and the school of the accused. |
| Confidentiality | Confidentiality means that the support provider will not disclose your identity or the substance of your conversation to the College, unless there is an imminent risk of harm to self or others.* There are confidential support providers within the Consortium, such as the Director of the EmPOWER Center, the Director of the Queer Resource Center (QRC), counselors at Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS), medical staff at the Student Health Center, and the The Claremont Colleges Chaplains. *In some but not all cases, the confidential support provider also may have an evidentiary privilege that prevents the person from being compelled to testify in a civil or criminal court proceeding. You may ask the specific provider if they have this legal privilege before you disclose information to them. |
| Anonymity | Sometimes people feel safer remaining anonymous and not revealing their identity to a support provider. Anonymous resources include the Project Sister Family Services and the House of Ruth 24/7 hotlines. At the Consortium, survivors may anonymously call the Scripps Advocates for Survivors of Sexual Assault warm-line. |