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Frequently Asked Questions and Information Regarding Sexual Misconduct

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS AND INFORMATION REGARDING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

  • Familiarize yourself with Kenyon's Sexual Misconduct Policy
  • Think about whether you want to be sexually active.
  • Know the person you are with before you are alone together.
  • Let your partner know how you feel. Communicate.
  • Be clear about what you want and what you don't want.
  • If you choose to drink, moderate your consumption so that you maintain the ability to make clear decisions and to recognize your partner's decisions. Keep an eye on whatever you drink.
  • Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable, get out of the situation.
  • Don't leave a party with someone you just met. Use the buddy system with friends. If you think a friend is in trouble, intervene.
  • Be assertive. Mean what you say and say what you mean.
  • Make sure that full consent is given and asked for during every aspect of sexual activity.
  • If you are confused about what is happening in a sexual encounter, talk with the person.

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A student can seek counseling and advice from anyone, but there are persons at the College who have the training, knowledge and experience to be especially helpful. You can talk with the following persons with complete confidentiality: staff in Kenyon's Counseling Center, Kim Cullers (cullersk@kenyon.edu); Karen Crane (cranek@kenyon.edu); Sexual Misconduct Advisors; or a member of the clergy. Other persons on campus who are good sources of information, especially regarding the policies and procedures, but who are legally required to report felonies (e.g. sexual assault) to local authorities are: Dean Hank Toutain, Dean of Students (toutainh@kenyon.edu) ; Chris Kennerly (kennerlyc@kenyon.edu) or Tacci Smith (smitht@kenyon.edu), Associate Deans of Students; Samantha Hughes, Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities (hughess@kenyon.edu); Mariam El Shamaa, Equal Opportunity Officer (elshamaam@kenyon.edu ); and Bob Hooper, Director of Campus Safety (hooperr@Kenyon.edu).

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Sexual Misconduct policy

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You file a written statement about the situation and request in writing that you would like to have this complaint heard by the Kenyon College Conduct Review Board. The statement/complaint is filed with one of the following persons: the College's Equal Opportunity Officer (Mariam El Shamaa, ext. 5820, elshamaam@kenyon.edu); the Dean of Students (Hank Toutain, ext. 5136, toutainh@kenyon.edu; the Associate Deans of Students (Chris Kennerly, ext.5160, kennerlyc@kenyon.edu; or Tacci Smith, ext 5923, smitht@kenyon.edu); Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities (Samantha Hughes, ext. 5846, hughess@kenyon.edu) or to the Director of Campus Safety (Bob Hooper, ext 5109, HooperR@kenyon.edu ).

The College is required to report felonies to local law enforcement (the Knox County Sheriff's department); this is done by the Security and Safety office. The Sheriff's department will take a report and contact the student(s) making the allegation(s). As a practical matter, prosecuting attorneys will typically not bring charges against the accused unless the accuser is willing to support the case and testify against the accused.

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Yes, the student(s) who filed the complaint will serve as Complainant in the hearing and will be responsible for presenting their case. You are able to (and encouraged to) have an Advisor to help you prepare your case and to be with you during the hearing. An Advisor can be any Kenyon faculty, administrator, or student who is not party to the case or to the Conduct ReviewBoard.

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The use of alcohol and/or drugs by either party will not diminish the responsibility of the accused. However, alcohol and/or other drugs are likely to affect memories and may affect the outcome of a case.

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The severity of the infraction will determine the nature of the College's response, but whenever possible, the College will respond educationally rather than punitively to the illegal use of alcohol and/or other drugs. The seriousness of sexual misconduct is a major concern and the College does not want any of the circumstances to inhibit reporting.

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The complaint is shared with Dean Toutain, Bob Hooper and Mariam El Shamaa. You will be contacted by Samantha Hughes, Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities, who will schedule a meeting with you to discuss the complaint in detail and also serve as a source of information about the College conduct review process for both the Complainant and the Accused throughout that process.

During this meeting, you will also learn about the College's conduct review process (rights of the accused and complainant, the hearing process, etc. http://www.kenyon.edu/x7512.xml), discuss various support resources available to you through the College, and talk about issues of confidentiality related to the process. When your written permission to proceed has been received, the Accused student(s) will be contacted. A meeting will be held with them to explain the charge(s) and they will receive a copy of your complaint. You will be informed when this meeting occurs.

The conduct hearing officer will meet with the Accused and a copy of your complaint will be shared with them. The content of that meeting will include the same items that were discussed with you. The Accused may or may not decide to write a written response to the charge(s); if they do, the Complainant receives a copy of this document

Both the Complainant and Accused are informed about the date, time, and location for the Conduct Review Board hearing. The student affairs conduct review contact person will encourage individual meetings with both parties (and their Advisors, if desired) to review the hearing process in detail and to respond to questions they may have prior to the hearing.

The hearing process will occur--the procedures for this process are outlined here-- http://www.kenyon.edu/x7512.xml. The conduct hearing officer will communicate with you about the process regarding the names of Conduct Review Board members who will be hearing the case, the names of witnesses who will be appearing, etc. You are encouraged to meet with the student affairs staff member whenever needed for answers to any questions you may have.

The hearing process will have an outcome--the accused student will be found responsible or not responsible. If the student is found not responsible, the process ends and all parties (Accused and Complainant) are reminded about the confidentiality of the process.

If the student is found to be responsible, they will have the opportunity to appeal the decision. Information regarding the appeal process can be found here--http://www.kenyon.edu/x7512.xml. The same issues of confidentiality apply.

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You are encouraged to contact someone in the campus community who can act as your advisor (faculty, administrator, student). You can also contact Samantha Hughes, Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities, who will explain the College's procedures for dealing with sexual misconduct complaints, as well as College resources (e.g. The Counseling Center) that are available to you.

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When a student reports a felony (e.g. sexual assault) to the College (except to someone with confidentiality), this is automatically reported to the Sheriff's department by the Office of Campus Safety. As a practical matter, prosecuting attorneys typically will not bring charges against the accused in a sexual assault case unless the accuser is willing to support the case and testify against the accused.

A student charged with sexual misconduct can be charged through the Sheriff's office and also disciplined under the College's policies, rules, and regulations. These actions are separate and they are not dependent upon one another. Bob Hooper , the Director of Campus Safety, can assist a student with contacting the Sheriff's department.

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MEDICAL TREATMENT
* Knox Community Hospital Emergency Room, 393-9710
*Family Planning, 397-0145
COUNSELING
*Kenyon College Counseling Services, ext 5643, No Fee
*Moundbuilders Guidance Center, Mt. Vernon, 397-0442, Fee for Services
*Mount Vernon Psychological Services, 392-5416, Fee for Services
*New Directions, Mt. Vernon, 397-4357, Support Services for Rape Survivors
LAW ENFORCEMENT
*Knox County Sheriff's Department, 393-6800
*For emergencies call 911, from on-campus phones 9-911
KENYON COLLEGE OFFICE OF CAMPUS SAFETY
*Bob Hooper, Director, ext 5100 or dial "0"
OTHER RESOURCES
(Persons with legal confidentiality)
*Sexual Misconduct Advisors
see list in Student Handbook or on the College website
*Clergy
(Persons with information about the college's processes, but do not have legal confidentiality)
*Samantha Hughes, Director of Student Rights and Responsibilities, pbx 5846
*Mariam El Shamaa, Equal Opportunity Office, ext 5820
Campus Groups
*Men at Kenyon-Patrick Giligan, ext 5643
*Crozier Center for Women, ext 5300
*Beer and Sex Peer Education Program, beerandsex@kenyon.edu
*Unity House, ext 6794
*Sexual Misconduct Task Force-Patrick Gilligan, pbx 5643; Samantha Hughes, pbx 5846
National Groups
*RAINN, Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network, (800)656-HOPE


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