Sexual Assault Prevention
Cumberland University does not tolerate sexual assault, coercion, exploitation, or other forms of sexual misconduct that offends the dignity of any member of the college community. Sexual assault, whether occurring on campus or at college-sponsored activities, is both a violation of the standards of the college and a criminal act within federal and state laws. Individuals who believe they have been the victims of a sexual assault may pursue resolution on campus and/or criminal action against an alleged perpetrator.
The University strongly encourages any person who has been sexually assaulted either on or off-campus to contact the Dean of Students, the Office of Campus Security, or the police department where the incident occurred. It is important to realize that on a national level, at least one third of all reported sexual assault victims know their attacker
• this person may have been a date, steady boyfriend or girlfriend, or casual friend. This is called "acquaintance rape"
• and it can happen to anyone at any time.
Victims of any violent crime can expect:
• To be treated with respect
• To have confidentiality maintained (within the bounds of law and University policy)
• To have college or criminal proceedings fully explained
• To receive referral information for support services
Information on sexual assault prevention can be found at the office of Safety and Security, in the office of the Dean of Students, and in the University Counseling Center.
Sex Offenses
If you are the victim of a sexual assault:
• Go to a safe place.
• Try to remain calm and alert.
• Call 615-476-3061 if the incident took place on campus; call the local police at 9*1*1 if it occurred off campus.
• Contact a trusted friend or family member.
• Do not bathe or douche. Do not urinate, if possible.
• Do not eat, drink liquids, smoke, or brush teeth if oral contact took place.
• Keep the clothes worn during the offense. If clothes are changed, place clothes in a paper bag (evidence deteriorates in plastic).
• Get prompt medical attention at a local hospital.
• Do not destroy the physical evidence that may be found in the vicinity of the crime. If the crime occurred in the victim's home, the victim should not clean until the police have had an opportunity to collect evidence.
• Tell someone all details remembered about the assault. Write down all details remembered as soon as possible.
REMEMBER: The preservation of physical evidence may be critical for successful prosecution of the offender.
If you are a Sex Offender
• You are subject to arrest, incarceration, and prosecution through the state courts.
• As a student, you are subject to University judicial proceedings that may result in permanent expulsion from Cumberland University.
On-campus Resources
Safety and Security: (615) 476-3061
Dean of Students: (615) 547-1387
Director or Counseling: (615) 547-1397
The Vice President of IT, Campus Services and Security: (615) 547-1255
Campus Security: (615) 476-3061
Preventing and Responding to Sex Offenses
The University educates the student community about sexual assaults and date rape through orientations each fall. Local agencies offer sexual assault education and information programs to University students and employees upon request. Literature on date rape education, risk reduction, and University response is available through the University Counseling Center.
If you are a victim of a sexual assault at this institution, your first priority should be to get to a place of safety. You should then obtain necessary medical treatment. University administration strongly advocates that a victim of sexual assault report the incident in a timely manner. Time is a critical factor for evidence collection and preservation. An assault should be reported directly to a University Security officer and/or to the Dean of Students. Filing a report with a University officer will not obligate the victim to prosecute, nor will it subject the victim to scrutiny or judgmental opinions from officers.
Filing a police report will:
• ensure that a victim of sexual assault receives the necessary medical treatment and tests, at no expense to the victim;
• provide the opportunity for collection of evidence helpful in prosecution, which cannot be obtained later (ideally a victim of sexual assault should not wash, douche, use the toilet, or change clothing prior to a medical/legal exam);
• assure the victim has access to free confidential counseling from counselors specifically trained in the area of sexual assault crisis intervention.
When a sexual assault victim contacts the appropriate campus official, local law enforcement agencies may be notified as well. The victim of a sexual assault may choose for the investigation to be pursued through the criminal justice system and the University Conduct System, or only the latter. A University representative, typically the Dean of Students, will guide the victim through the available options and support the victim in his or her decision. Various counseling options are available from the University through the Counseling Center, Rape and Sexual Abuse Center (800-879-1999 or 615-256-8526), the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800-656-HOPE).
Special guidelines for cases involving sexual misconduct are detailed in University policy and procedure material. The policy and procedure provides, in part, that the accused and the victim will each be allowed to choose one person who has had no formal legal training to accompany them throughout the hearing. Both the victim and accused will be informed of the outcome of the hearing. A student found responsible for violating the University sexual misconduct policy could be criminally prosecuted in the state courts and may be suspended or expelled from the University for the first offense. Student victims have the option to change their academic and/or on-campus living situations after an alleged sexual assault, if such changes are reasonably available.
What to do if you are a victim of a sexual assault
1. Find a safe location away from the perpetrator. Call 911 and/or CU Security (2222 or 615/476-3061) for help as needed to get to safety. Ask a trusted friend to be with you for moral support.
2. Know that what happened was not your fault.
3. Preserve all evidence of the assault.
4. Do not bathe, wash your hands, brush your teeth, eat, or smoke.
5. If you are still in the location at which the crime occurred, do not clean or straighten up or remove anything.
6. Write down all the details you can recall about the attack and the perpetrator.
7. Report the attack to law enforcement immediately (local authorities can be reached by calling 911 or you can call CU Security at 2222 or 615/476-3061 for assistance in reporting)
8. Seek medical care as soon as possible. Even if you do not have any visible physical injuries, you may be at risk of acquiring a sexually transmitted disease (women may also be at risk for pregnancy).
9. To find a local hospital or healthcare facility that is equipped to collect forensic evidence, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotline (800.656.HOPE). The hotline will connect you to your local crisis center, which can provide information on the nearest medical facility, and in some instances, send an advocate to accompany you through the evidence collection process.
10. Ask the health care professional to conduct a Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE).
11. If you suspect you have been drugged, request that a urine sample be collected to preserve evidence.
12. If you decide to file an on-campus report of sexual assault OR if you want to discuss your options for filing an on-campus report, please see the Dean of Students in Labry Hall 206. You can schedule an appointment by calling 547-1387.
Recognize that healing from an attack takes time. Give yourself the time you need and know that it is never too late to get help.
1. For free, confidential help 24/7 from a rape crisis counselor, contact the National Sexual Assault Hotlines (800.656.HOPE or online.rainn.org).
2. For free counseling on campus, please contact the Cumberland University Counseling Center at 547-1397.
Information on Registered Sex Offenders
Federal law requires convicted sex offenders to register for the purpose of community notification. In addition, these laws provide for the tracking of convicted sex offenders enrolled at or employed by institutions of higher education. The law requires sex offenders, already required to register in a specific state, to provide notice of each institution of higher education at which that person is employed or enrolled as a student. This registration is to be made available to law enforcement agencies with jurisdiction where the institution of higher education is located. Institutions of higher education are required to issue a statement advising the campus community where law enforcement agency information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained.
Information on registered sex offenders can be found at the links below:
Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Sex Offender Registry
http://www.tbi.state.tn.us/sex_ofender_reg/sex_ofender_reg.shtml
Security and Access to Facilities
During business hours, the University (excluding certain housing facilities) will be open to students, parents, employees, contractors, guests, and invitees. During non-business hours access to all University facilities is by key, if issued, or by admittance via Campus Safety or Residence Life staff. In the case of periods of extended closing, the University will admit only those with prior written approval to all facilities.
Residence halls are secured 24 hours a day. Over extended breaks, the doors of all halls will be secured around the clock. Some facilities may have individual hours, which may vary at different times of the year. Examples are the Dallas Floyd Recreational Center, the Vise Library, and administrative offices. In these cases, the facilities will be secured according to schedules developed by the department responsible for the facility. Emergencies may necessitate changes or alterations to any posted schedules.