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SEXUAL ASSAULT AND HARASSMENT

Sexual assault and sexual harassment policies
The Board of Trustees of The Community College of Baltimore County is committed to providing an academic learning and working environment that is free from sexual assault and harassment, and shall take preventive measures to ensure that faculty, staff, students and visitors are appropriately protected from such actions. This safe environment includes all campus locations and all off-campus, college-related activities and sites.

Commission of a sexual assault is a violation of college policy and of state criminal law. Sexual assault is broadly defined as being any unwanted attempted or actual sexual activity, including forcible and non-forcible sexual offenses. A forcible sexual offense is any sexual act directed against another person, including unwanted touching, that is against that person’s will or which involves the use of force or violence or the threat of force or violence, or a sexual act against a person incapable of giving consent. Forcible sexual offenses include rape, sodomy, sexual assault with an object, and all forms of non-consensual touching, such as fondling. Non-forcible sexual offenses are acts of unlawful sexual activity against persons incapable of giving consent, such as statutory rape. Acts which are commonly expressive of familiar or friendly affection and accepted medical purposes are not included.

Sexual harassment is a form of sexual discrimination that is prohibited by federal and state law. It is defined as unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors or other physical or verbal conduct of a sexual nature, including, but not limited to, the following circumstances:

1. When submission to such conduct is made explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or a part of the educational process; or
2. When submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or academic decisions affecting such an individual; or
3. When such conduct has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile or offensive working or educational environment. Examples of conduct which violate this policy include, but are not limited to, intentional physical conduct which is sexual in nature; unwanted sexual advances, propositions, or other sexual comments; preferential treatment, or the promise of such, for submitting to sexual conduct; displaying pictures, objects, or materials which are sexually offensive; physical assault of a sexual nature or attempts to commit such an assault; and retaliation for making a sexual harassment complaint or participating in a sexual harassment investigation.

Persons found guilty of sexual assault or sexual harassment will be disciplined in accordance with the college’s disciplinary policies, which include expulsion from the college or termination of employment. These sanctions will be in addition to criminal or civil penalties imposed by federal or state courts. Any person found guilty of filing a false accusation of sexual harassment will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action as well.

Each campus of The Community College of Baltimore County will develop an educational and informational campaign to assist with the prevention of sexual assaults and sexual harassment.

Each campus will investigate all complaints of sexual assault and sexual harassment, adjudicating them in accordance with the college’s disciplinary and appeal procedures.

In addition, each campus will routinely assess the safety of the campus environment and will take corrective action to alter any identified potential problem areas. If an assault occurs, the appropriate college officers will issue timely warnings or notification to the college community. Statistics on campus rapes and sexual offenses will be made available to students under procedures developed in accordance with the Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act.

What to do if you are sexually assaulted

• Get to a place where you will be safe from further attack.
• For your own protection, call the police immediately, especially if the assailant is still nearby. The police will help you whether or not you choose to prosecute the assailant.
• Call a friend or family member for support.
• Get medical attention immediately. The primary purpose of a medical examination following a rape is to check for physical injury, the presence of sexually transmitted diseases, or pregnancy as a result of the rape. The secondary purpose of a medical examination is to aid in the police investigation and legal proceedings.
• Don’t bathe or douche. Bathing or douching might be the first thing you want to do. You might literally be washing away valuable evidence. Wait until you have an examination.
• Save your clothing. It is all right to change clothes, but save what you were wearing. Your clothing could be used as evidence for prosecution. Place each item of clothing in a separate paper bag for police.
• Report the incident to the police. It is up to you, but reporting a rape isn’t the same thing as prosecuting a rape. Prosecution can be determined later. To contact police, call 911, 24 hours a day. A number of college personnel are willing and able to assist victims in reporting assaults to the proper authorities.
• If you are a victim of a sexual assault and decide not to notify the police, please secure medical attention and contact any of the victim support resources listed below. The college will also assist the victim with contacting any of these supporting agencies.
  • Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Center (SADVC), 410-828-6390
  • Eastern Family Resource Center, 410-887-0400
  • Turn Around, 410-377-8111
  • Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault, 1-800-983-7273

The college will assist the victim, at his or her request, in notifying the appropriate law enforcement authorities to file criminal charges. The college will also provide full and prompt cooperation in assessing the appropriate medical attention for the victim, including transportation to a hospital equipped with a Maryland State Police sexual assault evidence collection kit (Franklin Square Hospital or Greater Baltimore Medical Center).

The college will investigate sexual assault complaints and adjudicate them in accordance with college disciplinary procedures. Both the victim and the accused will be allowed to have witnesses present during the hearing process and will be notified of the outcome of the college’s disciplinary process.

The college is committed to protecting reasonable confidentiality of the victim, affording protection against reprisal, and providing due process to those accused of violations. The college will provide other services as appropriate or feasible, including alternative class scheduling and psychological support.

An educational and informational campaign to assist with the prevention of sexual assaults will be readily available to students, faculty and staff. The educational programs are provided through various formats (films, lectures, workshops, etc.), which address the issues germane to sexual assault and its prevention, including acquaintance rape, rape, spousal and co-habitant abuse and self-defense. In addition, there are free pamphlets available on acquaintance rape, rape, sexual assault and spousal abuse in the Student Life and Counseling areas of the college.