SEXUAL ASSAULT ISSUES
In compliance with Colorado State law and the Duty to Report Statute, all University employees are required to report all crimes committed on campus, including sexual assault, to the UNC Police Department. The only exception to this clause is with agencies that have an established client/patient confidentiality relationship. It is the policy of the UNC Police Department to fully investigate all rumored or reported sexual assaults occurring on campus. Cases with an identified perpetrator are submitted to the District Attorney’s Office for review, and if appropriate, filing of criminal charges. In addition to criminal sanctions, students may be subject to administrative discipline for behaviors, such as sexual assault, which violate the Student Code of Conduct. In circumstances where it is established that a sexual assault has occurred, the perpetrator may be subject to a number of administrative sanctions. These ramifications are outlined under "Sanctions for Misconduct" in the Student Handbook and range from an official University warning to expulsion from the University. During any formal sexual assault administrative hearing, both the victim and the accused shall be free from intimidation, harassment, and retaliation. The victim and accused have the same opportunities for assistance during a hearing, and both will be notified of the outcome in a timely manner. There are a number of rights and procedures afforded to both the victim and the accused. For a detailed summary of sexual assault procedures, refer to the Student Handbook. In the event a student is sexually assaulted, we strongly encourage reporting of the incident as soon as possible. Prompt reporting increases the likelihood of apprehending the perpetrator and preventing similar assaults. All sexual assaults that occur on campus should be reported to the UNC Police Department by calling 351-2245. If the assault occurred off-campus, the report should be made to the local police agency where the crime occurred. Always call 911 in the case of an emergency! If in doubt, call the University Police. They will facilitate notifying the proper agency and other appropriate services to assist the victim. While waiting for the police to respond it is important that you NOT shower, douche, change clothes, or clean up in any way. Doing so may lose valuable evidence. Time can also be critical. Some date-rape drugs disappear from the body in a matter of hours. Don’t delay – report immediately! Sexual assaults can have devastating consequences for all involved. The University has several resources available for individuals experiencing difficulties as a result of their victimization. The following are some of the resources available both on and off campus:
(click on the resources to link to their Web pages)
- Assault Survivors Advocacy Program (ASAP), 351-1490 or 351-4040
- Sexual Assault Survivors, Inc. (SASI), 352-7273
- UNC Counseling Center, 351-2496
- UNC Police, 351-2245 or 911
- UNC Health Center, 351-2412
- Dean of Students, 351-2796
- Residence Life, 351-1944
- North Range Behavioral Health, 353-3686
To further assist victims of sexual assault, the University will also facilitate appropriate and reasonable housing and/or academic changes as requested. In this event, the Director of Residence Life and the Dean of Students should be contacted to assist in the process.