Title IX

Sexual Assault, Sexual Misconduct and Sexual Harassment

Sexual assault, sexual misconduct and "having sex" are not the same.

Sexual assault is an act of sexual violence.

Sexual Violence refers to sexual acts committed against a person's will, or where the person is incapable of giving consent due to a victim’s use of drugs or alcohol resulting in incapacitation or unconsciousness, a victim’s intellectual or other disability, or any circumstance rendering one unaware that sexual activity is occurring. These acts include:

• Rape
• Sexual assault
• Sexual battery
• Sexual coercion

Sexual assault and sexual misconduct are acts of hostility, power, control, degradation, and violence… not passion. They are attempts to control and degrade others using sex and sexual acts as weapons. Anyone can be a victim of sexual assault or sexual misconduct—women, men, and children. Perpetrators of sexual assault and sexual misconduct can be anyone: a stranger, someone you have known for a long time or someone you have just met.

Saint Mary's College of California insists that all members of its community shall be able to pursue their interests free from sexual assault, sexual misconduct and other forms of sexual harassment. Consistent with the values of an educational and employment environment free from harassment based on sex, the College also prohibits gender-based harassment, which may include acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature. Under this policy, sexual harassment includes but is not limited to sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, cyber-stalking, bullying and cyber-bullying, aiding or facilitating the commission of a violation, and retaliation.

This policy pertains to incidents of sexual assault and sexual misconduct between students or where the alleged perpetrator is a student. To report a violation of this policy when the alleged perpetrator is a student, follow the procedures outlined below. To report a violation of this policy when the alleged perpetrator is a faculty or staff member, contact the Title IX Coordinator and Special Assistant to the Provost for Equity and Inclusion, at kwb4@stmarys-ca.edu (925) 631-4318. For information regarding reporting other forms of sexual harassment see the Policy Prohibiting, and Procedures for Reporting, Discrimination, Harassment, including Sexual, and Retaliation.

We encourage all members of our campus community to seek support for and report all sexual harassment and sexual misconduct directly to the Saint Mary’s Department of Public Safety, the Campus Assault Resources and Empowerment (CARE) team, the Title IX Coordinator or to the Deputy Coordinators. These individuals will assist in eliminating the misconduct, preventing its recurrence and addressing the effects.

Please see options for immediate actions, options for reporting the incident and getting support and what to consider when making your decision. Regardless of where it is reported, the Title IX Coordinator will vet all complaints. If you need immediate confidential counseling, please contact the Director for Sexual Assault Prevention at 925-631-4193.  For anonymous support, which provides information, options and resources 24 hours a day, call the CARE line at 925-878-9207.

Are you a Student? Do you have concerns about Faculty conduct? Please view our Student Concerns About Conduct flow chart to.

Are you a Faculty/Staff Member? Do you have concerns about Student conduct? Please view our Faculty Concerns About Student Academic Perfomance and Conduct flow chart to.

Saint Mary's College of California is grateful to Amherst College, Amherst Massachusetts, for granting permission to Saint Mary's to use in this website content and information from Amherst's Title IX website.