Reporting Options for Sexual Assault or Harassment

This page will provide you with information about your rights and options including:

1. Steps you can take after experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking;
2. Supportive measures and other resources at the University and in the community; and
3. An explanation of the procedures for institutional disciplinary action.

1. Steps you can take after experiencing dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking

Your safety is important. What happened was not your fault. The following are options you can consider.

Report to the University Title IX Coordinator

Reports of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking to the Title IX Coordinator may be made in several ways:

• Call: 406-994-1568 and leave a private voice message.
• Email: [email protected]
• Online Reporting: https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?MontanaStateUniv&layout_id=9
• Visit: http://www.montana.edu/civilrights/

OIE is not a confidential resource. Nevertheless, the Title IX Coordinator will make every effort to respect and safeguard the privacy of the individuals involved. The University can provide supportive and resources regardless of whether you choose to file a Formal Complaint or report the crime to the police.

Amnesty

Students who report information about sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence or stalking involving themselves or other students will not be disciplined for any violation of the University’s drug or alcohol possession or consumption policies in which they might have engaged in connection with the reported incident.

Make a Police Report

You have the option to notify law enforcement. Contacting police will be confidential and does not require that you file a report or pursue criminal charges against the offender. It is your choice whether to make such a report. Furthermore, you have the right to decline to notify law enforcement. However, the Voice Center or the Title IX Coordinator will assist you with notifying law enforcement if you wish.

Seek Suppot from Confidential or Non-Confidential Resources

Additional resources are available on the Campus Civil Rights website at https://www.montana.edu/civilrights/

Seek Medical Attention

After an incident of sexual assault, dating violence, or domestic violence, you should consider seeking medical attention as soon as possible to treat any injury, get screened for sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy or to seek the medical collection of evidence.

Preserve Evidence

Evidence may assist in proving a criminal offense occurred, a campus policy was violated, or may be helpful in obtaining an Order of Protection. Evidence can include pictures of injuries, social media posts, text messages, emails, or other photographs.

In cases of sexual assault, medical forensic evidence may be collected within 120 hours of the assault by specially trained Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANE). In Bozeman you can get a SANE exam at Bozeman Deaconess Hospital. You may request an exam and forensic evidence collection at no cost and without having to file a police report. In the state of Montana, evidence may be collected and held for a year even if you choose not to make a report to law enforcement.

Things to keep in mind prior to an examination by a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner:

• If possible, it is best not to use the bathroom, shower, change clothing, brush hair, smoke, brush teeth or clean up the area where the assault occurred; this can help to preserve the perpetrator’s DNA.
• If you do change clothes, put all clothing you were wearing at the time of the assault in a paper bag (no plastic bags).

2. Resources available at the University and in the community

Orders of Protection

An Order of Protection is a civil court order that is designed to stop violent and harassing behavior by placing limits on the conduct of and contact from the abuser. The University cannot apply to the Court system for an Order of Protection. Individuals seeking an Order of Protection must apply directly for these services themselves. They can receive aid from the Haven Legal Advocacy, https://havenmt.org/emergency#legal-advocacy 406-582-2038 or [email protected]

A person may meet with the Title IX Coordinator, University Police and The Voice Center before or after obtaining an Order of Protection to develop a Safety Plan. Any individual who already has or obtains a court Order for Protection should provide a copy of the Order to Office of Institutional Equity MSU and The University Police Department. Police can enforce a court Order for Protection on University property and may be able to arrest a person for violating it

Trespass Notice

University Law Enforcement may, if deemed appropriate, issue a campus Trespass Notice to keep a person from entering or remaining on the university campus, in specific university buildings or at University sanctioned events. This can be done through the University Police Department.

No Contact Directives

The Title IX Coordinator may issue an institutional No Contact Directive between individuals if deemed appropriate. The No Contact Directive is a warning to individuals not to contact each other in any manner on or off campus.

Supportive and Protective Measures

Supportive and Protective measures are non-disciplinary, non-punitive individualized services or tools offered without fee or charge to a Complainant or Respondent. The University will provide interim supportive measures regardless of whether you choose to report to the police or start a formal University investigation.

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for coordinating Supportive and Protective measures.

Supportive and Protective measures may include extensions of deadlines or other course-related adjustments, modifications of work or class schedules, campus escort services, changes in work or housing locations, or leaves of absence.

To request a Supportive or Protective measure, please contact Campus Civil Rights

3. An explanation of the procedures for institutional disciplinary action

Steps in University Disciplinary Process

The University has a policy called the Discrimination, Harassment and Retaliation Policy that prohibits, among other forms of discrimination and harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation. This policy applies to all faculty, staff, students, and visitors while engaged in activities directly related to the nature of their University affiliation. Violations of this policy will be addressed through the Discrimination Grievance Procedures.

The full procedures are available http://www.montana.edu/civilrights/policies/grievanceprocedures.html

Title IX Coordinator Response to Receiving a Report

When the Title IX Coordinator receives a report that a person may have experienced dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, the Title IX Coordinator will contact that person by email to discuss options including potential supportive measures.

Questions? Contact the Title IX Coordinator

The Title IX Coordinator will listen to you, will answer any questions you have about the campus disciplinary process, and will work to connect you to the resources you express that you need to access your education or campus work environment.

Kyleen Breslin - Title IX Coordinator - [email protected]