Title IX
Campus Safety Winter Meeting
Jennifer Storm, Director of Equity & Title IX
Who are we?
Jules Purnell, M.Ed.�pronouns: they/them/theirs�Associate Director of Prevention Education
Seegers Union, Lower Level
P: 484-664-3186�E: julespurnell@muhlenberg.edu
Jennifer Storm�pronouns: she/her/hers�Director of Equity & Title IX
Seegers Union & Haas 3rd Floor
P: 484-664-3562�E: jenniferstorm@muhlenberg.edu
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY AND NONDISCRIMINATION POLICY �
For incidents of protected class discrimination and harassment, sexual harassment, intimate partner violence, stalking, and retaliatory harassment
Muhlenberg College is dedicated to providing a diverse, equitable, and inclusive educational and work environment for all students, faculty, and staff1. The College has developed this policy, the Equal Opportunity and Nondiscrimination Policy (the “EO Policy”), to reaffirm this dedication.
College Nondiscrimination & Title IX Policy and Procedures�� IX Rules: Overview
Titles IV, VI, and VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964;
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972;
Campus Sexual Violence Elimination Act;
Campus Sexual Assault Victims’ Bill of Rights;
Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act;
Violence Against Women Act;
Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act;
Age Discrimination Act of 1975;
Titles I and II of the Americans with Disabilities Act;
the Pennsylvania Human Relations Act;
any other applicable federal, state, or local law governing equal opportunity and nondiscrimination.
Who does the EO policy apply to?
All students, faculty, and staff (“Community Members”) of Muhlenberg College.
The EO Policy applies when a Community Member engages in prohibited conduct under this EO Policy and: �
A “substantial interest” is defined to include: �
Third Parties
Trauma Defined
The experience of violence and victimization including sexual abuse, physical abuse, severe neglect, loss, domestic violence and/or the witnessing of violence, terrorism or disaster. (NASMHPD, 2006)
PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL RESPONSES TO TRAUMA
Physical
FIGHT, FLIGHT, ADAPTATION
Heart rate increases, blood pressure rises, adrenaline pumps, 1 or 2 senses become acute, body excretes toxins (regurgitation, defecation, urination); body will fight, flee or adapt as a survivor skill
EXHAUSTION
Yesterday – Today – Tomorrow
Past – Present – Future
Body exhausts itself to relax so it can make more adrenaline; often equated with sleeping, though most victims don't sleep
National Organization for Victim Assistance www.trynova.org
Emotional
SHOCK, DISBELIEF, DENIAL
Can't believe what is happening
CATACLYSM OF EMOTION
Fear/Terror
Anger/Rage
Confusion/Frustration
Shame/Humiliation
Guilt/Self Blame
Grief/Sorrow
RECONSTRUCTION
Time begins anew for victims as they start life after the trauma
Trauma encodes on the right side
of the brain, the non-verbal side
of the brain.
Understanding Sensitive Response
Patience, understand that the complainant will not remember details, events etc. in a linear fashion
Speak slowly, engage them in other ways, coloring, writing, have stress balls etc.
Understanding the way, the trauma has encoded in brain can help to create ways to engage.
It’s what you say and how you say it…
Move from “what is wrong with you?” to “what happened to you”?
“People will forget what you have said, what you did, but they will never forget how you made them feel” Maya Angelou
Checklist
Was this evaluated for a Timely Warning Message
Does the student need/want medical attention?
Is there physical evidence that needs to be preserved?
Do the circumstances justify involvement by the Allentown Police Department. This is almost always the Complainant's decision, except when there is a greater threat to the Campus Community.
Provide a one-page Resource Guide (located in the Prosser Lobby). Be sure to offer to the Complainant to speak with the on-call Counselor.
Determine if the Complainant feels safe returning to their residence hall/room. The on call HRL Professional staff member may need to be contacted.
Only HRL Professional Staff Members can discuss room changes with students. If a student asks or the officer feels it may be helpful to move a student, HRL must be consulted before discussing it with a student.
If the decision has been made to send a Timely Warning the Complainant must be told prior to the message going out. No identifying information will be included concerning the Complainant
��
Reporting: �
If the Complainant is OK with completing a statement they should do so via the Sexual Harassment or Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence, Stalking Online and Anonymous Reporting form found here: https://www.muhlenberg.edu/webapps/incidentreporting/
This is the only time when the officer will NOT complete the Maxient fields in the Omnigo report. This will prevent the wide distribution of this sensitive information. What IS completed by the officer instead is dictated in the bullet point below:
The reporting officer should also submit a detailed report via the Sexual Harassment or Misconduct, Intimate Partner Violence, Stalking Online and Anonymous Reporting form found here: https://www.muhlenberg.edu/webapps/incidentreporting/ . This step is done INSTEAD of completing the Maxient fields in Omnigo and allows the necessary information to be routed to Maxient with a limited report distribution to only a few people who need to know the details.
Create a Trauma-Informed Responses
A "trauma-informed" approach is one that aims to understand behavior—not label it, blame someone, or accidentally shame them.
Telling people that it's OK to not feel OK, sharing with them that they are not alone (offering supportive measures), and helping them establish a sense of safety, are all powerful ways to offer a young person a safe space to navigate confusion around trauma.
�“Experiencing normal reactions to abnormal events…” (Van der Kolk)�
All crime victims experience stress-trauma on some level. Often medical trauma is a factor as well.
Crime victimization leaves victims, families, and friends—even the community around them-in a state of turmoil.
When people experience loss and are hurting, its reasonable that their responses will be unreasonable.
Perception of Trauma is reality!!
NORMAL RESPONSES TO TRAUMATIC EVENTS
Symptoms and feelings typically last from a few days to a few months, gradually fading as one processes the trauma.
�But even when people are feeling better, they may be troubled from time to time by painful memories or emotions—especially in response to triggers such as an anniversary of the event or an image, sound, or situation that reminds them of the traumatic experience.
A NEW NORMAL
What most people do not understand is that a violent victimization will stay with a person forever in some manner. They will NEVER be the same. They will have to learn how to operate under a “new” normal.
Do not say things like “When will you get over this or why can’t you just move on”
No such thing as closure
What the College Offers
Who shoud I call for advocacy and accompainment?
On Campus Confidential Resources:
Off campus confidential resources:
Campus Resources
Contact and Questions
Office of Equity and Title IX on the third floor of Haas Building,
484-664-3562