Title IX

Title IX Office Procedures

After you make a report, the Title IX Office will reach out to you to make sure you feel safe and know about resources. They will offer to meet with you to talk about supportive measures and your options, including an investigation, if appropriate. You don’t have to respond to the Title IX Office if you don’t want to, but you are encouraged to do so.

The university won’t contact law enforcement after receiving a report of prohibited conduct. However, the university will help you get in touch with law enforcement if you wish. By reporting a crime to law enforcement, you may be able to obtain a protective order. Westminster has limited ability to protect you off campus.

After reporting, you cannot be intimidated or harassed for making a good-faith report of prohibited conduct or participating in a proceeding. This is retaliation, and you should let the Title IX Office know if you feel you are being retaliated against, whether you are a reporting party, respondent, or witness.

Investigations

After reporting, you never have to pursue an investigation unless you choose to. However, in rare cases, the university may need to proceed with an investigation to ensure the broader campus community’s safety. In that case, you are not required to participate in the investigation, but this could limit the university’s ability to take corrective action.

You do not have to pursue an investigation to receive help. Reporting parties are entitled to supportive measures and resources regardless of whether they pursue an investigation. Examples of supportive measures are changes in housing, adjustment to class or work schedules, extensions on assignments, or rescheduling exams. You can request supportive measures from the Title IX Office.

If you want to, you can choose not to pursue a university or criminal investigation, to only pursue a university investigation, to only pursue a criminal investigation, or to pursue both. A university investigation is focused on ensuring that you are safe and have equal opportunity to pursue your education and employment. If you seek legal justice, you should report a crime to law enforcement.

The university attempts to complete the investigation within 60 calendar days of the respondent receiving written notice of the investigation. However, this time frame may need to be adjusted to account for holidays; school breaks; availability of the parties, witnesses, or staff; a concurrent criminal investigation; or the complexity of the case.

Westminster University recognizes the difficulty of working through the Title IX process and believes in supporting all individuals involved in Title IX incidents. You should understand the rights of both parties. Both parties have the right to a prompt, fair, and impartial investigation. Impartial means that the Title IX coordinator and the specially trained investigators are neutral, do not favor one party over the other, and do not make prejudgments. The Title IX coordinator ensures that both parties have a fair process.

Investigation Confidentiality

Investigations cannot always remain confidential. Only the Counseling Center and Student Health Services are confidential resources. The university makes great efforts to ensure that any report or investigation is kept private, meaning that information is only shared with university officials on a need-to-know basis. It is recommended that you do not discuss the investigation with others at the university.

If you have experienced sexual assault or interpersonal violence, the most important thing you can do is get to a safe place. If you believe you or anyone else is in immediate danger, call 911. Other suggestions include:

Preserve Evidence

Do your best to preserve all evidence, even if you don't know if you want to report the assault or press charges. While this may be difficult, preserving any evidence is important in the event you decide to report the assault to the police. Preserving evidence includes:

• Avoiding showering/bathing, douching, brushing your teeth, eating, washing your hands, or changing your clothes. If you need to change, put everything you were wearing into a paper bag and take it to your medical exam.
• Not rearranging or cleaning up anything until you have decided whether or not to file a report If the assault took place in your room or home.
• Saving electronic evidence such as text messages or emails.
• Writing down as much as you can remember about the assault, including a description of the assailant.

Call Someone

No matter how late it is, you should not be alone, and many people at Westminster can help and support you. Call a friend, your RA, Campus Patrol (801.832.2525), the Westminster Counseling Center (801.467.7273), or the Title IX Office (801.832.2496).

Seek Medical Attention

It is important to seek medical attention at a local emergency room as soon as possible, ideally within 120 hours (5 days) after sexual assault/interpersonal violence. Even if you have no apparent injuries and you know that you will never file a report, it is important to get medical attention to determine the risks of STDs and pregnancy and receive appropriate prophylaxis medication, if desired. Things to keep in mind include:

• Hospitals are trained to treat injuries, check for pregnancy and STDs, and collect physical evidence to be used should you choose to report the assault.
• If done, a rape kit exam should be performed within 5 days of the assault. This can be done at the hospital or the Family Justice Center (24-hour crisis line, 1.855.992.2752). A member of the Rape Recovery Center’s 24-hour Hospital Response team will accompany you during the exam. You can receive this exam whether or not you choose to involve the police. Crime Victim Reparations will cover costs for this exam.
• Emergency room staff may ask if you would like them to contact the police for you. This is your decision. You do not need to speak to the police if you do not wish to do so.

Document the Incident

Write down as much as you can remember about the assault, including a description of the assailant.

File a Police Report

Deciding to file a police report does not obligate you to follow through with pressing charges, although if a minor is involved, the police will file charges with or without your consent. You may be able to obtain a protective order through criminal processes. You can report the incident to the Salt Lake Police Department at 801.799.3000.

Report the Incident to Campus Patrol

You can report the incident or safety concerns to campus patrol at 801.832.2525. However, note that campus patrol is not law enforcement, and the university's ability to protect you is limited.

Report a Title IX Incident

Fill out Westminster’s Title IX Report Form. There is no time limit for reporting prohibited conduct to the university, and reporting an incident does not necessarily mean that an investigation will be pursued.

Get Support

Get support from someone you trust. Many survivors of sexual assault experience a wide range of emotions following the assault, including shock, anger, self-blame, shame, helplessness, denial, fear, and mood swings, among others. These can occur immediately after an assault or weeks, months, or even years later. Refer to the list of Title IX resources for organizations you can reach out to for support.

Students receive in-person and online training regarding Title IX policies and procedures, prohibited conduct, consent, reporting, investigations, available resources, and supportive measures during orientation. Student groups also receive individualized trainings throughout the academic year (student leadership training, RA training, etc.).

All employees are required to complete training on prohibited conduct, appropriate responses to disclosures, their reporting responsibilities, and resources. Staff and faculty involved with Title IX issues receive additional training on conducting investigations and appeals, providing a trauma-informed response and investigation, and administering the Title IX program in accordance with laws and best practices.