Resources and Information for the Allegheny Community.
What To Do , Where to Report, How to Find Support
Sexual Assault and Consent
Sexual Violence is any form of sexual assault, sexual exploitation, or dating or domestic violence. Stalking can also be a form of sexual violence.
Sexual Assault is any sexual contact, including but not limited to intercourse (rape), that occurs without consent and/or through coercion.
Consent is defined as clear, unambiguous, and voluntary agreement between the participants to engage in specific sexual activity. Consent cannot be inferred in the absence of a “no.” A clear verbal or nonverbal “yes” is necessary.
- Consent must be clear and unambiguous for each participant throughout any sexual encounter. Talking with sexual partners about desires and limits may seem awkward, but serves as the basis for positive sexual experiences.
- Consent cannot be obtained from someone who is asleep or otherwise mentally or physically incapacitated, whether due to alcohol, drugs, or some other condition.
- Consent to some sexual acts does not imply consent to others, nor does past consent to a given act imply ongoing or future consent.
- Consent can be revoked at any time.
Sexual violence or assault can happen to men, women and gender non-conforming persons, and any of these gender identities can be assailants.
What To Do?
Here are steps to take after you or someone you know has been assaulted. These are focused on safety in the moments immediately after an assault:
- Get to a safe place.
- Find an RA or Residential Life staff member to assist you.
- Contact Public Safety x3357, who will in turn contact the Meadville Police. Remember, reporting does not mean you have to press charges!
- Seek medical attention.
If the sexual misconduct you experienced involved any type of physical contact, please consider these steps:
- If possible, do not bathe, shower or change your clothes.
- Seek medical care as soon as possible.
- Take a moment and write down any details of the incident you remember, even if you haven’t decided if you wish to press charges or make a complaint.
You may wish to connect with the various support and advocacy services.
Policy Violation Complaint Process
Confidential Reporting means that you can talk with someone and they are not required by law to report any assault that may have already occurred. These include clergy, physicians and licensed counselors available at the following locations:
- Edinboro Counseling and Psychological Services, 814-734-3975 or 814-332-2782
- Meadville Medical Center, located at the Winslow Health and Wellbeing Center, 814-332-4355
- Meadville Crisis Line, 814-724-2732 Spiritual & Religious Life Office , 814-332-4356
Non-Confidential Reporting means that you will talk with someone who is required to report that an assault may have taken place. This does not mean you need to file a complaint through the College, but the Title IX Coordinator for Allegheny will ask to meet with you and discuss your reporting options.
- IDEAS (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access, & Social Justice) Center, 818-332-2718
- Title IX Coordinator and Deputies
- Office of Public Safety, 814-332-3357, who will in turn contact the Meadville Police
- Meadville City Police, 814-724-6100
You can report to any faculty or staff member that you are comfortable talking to about the incident; however, that person will be required to make a report to the Title IX Coordinator.
- An investigator is assigned as investigator to take the complaint and speak with all parties, including any witnesses named by either the complainant or respondent
- Both the complainant and respondent are allowed to have an advisor/support person of choice move through the process with them
- Upon conclusion of the investigation, the Hearing Panel will make an administrative determination as to whether the College’s sexual harassment policy has been violated and what the sanction will be for any such violation. Both parties have the right to an appeal,under policy.
Possible sanctions for violations of the sexual harassment policy include
- Warning
- Probation
- Suspension
- Expulsion
*In some cases of reported sexual harassment, the College may need to pursue an investigation of policy violation, even if a complainant does not wish to file a complaint.
Harassment, Discrimination and Sexual Misconduct Policy
No member of our College community should be subject to harassment, discrimination, or violence based on the individual’s race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, religion, or disability.
Set forth the processes available for reporting, investigating, and resolving allegations of discrimination, discriminatory harassment and sex-based harassment, sexual violence, intimate partner violence and stalking. The College will respond promptly, equitably, and appropriately to notice or reports of any form of alleged misconduct under this policy occurring in the College community.
*See Reporting Options and the Non-Confidential Reporting section on page 3 regarding an Allegheny College employee’s duty to report.
Further information on the Allegheny policy, procedures, and resources are available in the Compass or the Title IX website.