Welcome to the Title IX website, a resource on sexual misconduct for students, faculty, staff, and visitors who are part of the Hocking College community. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 states: "No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance." Hocking College is committed to providing a learning, working and living environment that promotes personal integrity, civility and mutual respect in an environment free of sexual misconduct and discrimination. Sexual discrimination violates an individual's fundamental rights and personal dignity. Hocking College considers sexual discrimination in all its forms to be a serious offense. This resource refers to all forms of sexual discrimination, including: sexual harassment, sexual assault, and sexual violence by employees, students, or third parties. (Title 20 U.S.C. Sections 1681-1688)

Sexual Misconduct Policy

The Hocking College Sexual Misconduct Policy can be found in the College Catalog.

Who can I contact about Sexual Misconduct?

Tell a trusted person about the incident. Contact Hocking College Police Department. You may also contact the College's Counseling Center. Residence Life and Campus Police can provide immediate referral information, access to the College counselor on call, and/or investigation assistance.

Resources for Victims of Sexual Misconduct

Various supportive measures are available for those who have experienced sexual discrimination. These support sources include:

• Title IX Coordinator can assist with finding on and off-campus resources.
• Hocking College Counseling Center
• Reassignments - When the survivor and the accused student participate in the same class(es) and/or reside in the same college residence or in proximity to one another, survivors may request that a fair and immediate way to reassign and/or move one of the persons be decided upon by college administration.

Risk Reduction Tips

1. If you have limits, make them known before things go too far.
2. Tell a sexual aggressor "NO" clearly and loudly, like you mean it.
3. Try to extricate yourself from the physical presence of a sexual aggressor.
4. Grab someone nearby and ask for help.
5. Be responsible for your alcohol intake/drug use and realize that alcohol/drugs lower your sexual inhibitions and may make you vulnerable to someone who views a drunk or high person as a sexual opportunity.
6. Watch out for your friends and ask that they watch out for you. A real friend will get in your face if you are about to make a mistake. Respect them if they do.
7. If you find yourself in the position of being the initiator of sexual behavior, you owe sexual respect to your potential partner.

These suggestions may help you to reduce your risk for being accused of sexual misconduct:

• Don't Make Assumptions. About consent. About someone's sexual availability. About whether they are attracted to you. About how far you can go. About whether they are physically and mentally able to consent to you.
• Clearly communicate your intentions to your sexual partner and give them a chance to clearly relate their intentions to you.
• Mixed messages from your partner should be a clear indication that you should step back, defuse the sexual tension, and communicate better. Perhaps you are misreading them. Perhaps they haven't figured out how far they want to go with you yet. You need to respect the timeline with which they are comfortable.
• Don't take advantage of someone's drunkenness or drugged state, even if they did it to themselves.
• Realize that your potential partner could be intimidated by you, or fearful. You may have a power advantage simply because of your gender or size. Don't abuse that power.
• Understand that consent to some forms of sexual behavior does not necessarily imply consent to other forms of sexual behavior.
• On this campus, silence and passivity cannot be interpreted by you as an indication of consent. Read your potential partner carefully, paying attention to verbal and non-verbal communication and body language.