Title IX and the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Explicit approval to engage in sexual activity demonstrated by clear actions or words. This decision must be made freely and actively by all participants. Non-verbal communication, silence, passivity, or lack of active resistance does not imply consent. In addition, previous participation in sexual activity does not indicate current consent to participate and consent to one form of sexual activity does not imply consent to other forms of sexual activity. Consent has not been obtained in situations where the individual: i) is forced, pressured, manipulated or has reasonable fear they will be injured if they do not submit to the act; ii) is incapable of giving consent or is prevented from resisting due to physical or mental incapacity (including being under the influence of drugs or alcohol); or iii) has a mental or physical disability which inhibits his/her ability to give consent to sexual activity.

Consent: It’s Simple as Tea Video

Remember: “No” means “No” and “Yes” may not always mean “Yes.” Anything but a clear, knowing, and voluntary consent to any sexual activity is equivalent to a “No.”

Sexual harassment is quid pro quo harassment; unwelcome conduct that a reasonable person would find so severe, pervasive, and objectively offensive that it effectively denies a person equal access to the College's education program or activity, including conduct based on sex, stereotyping; or any instance of sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, or stalking.

Quid pro quo harassment is a person having power or authority over another and conditioning an educational or employment benefit or services or access to receiving the educational or employment benefit or service upon a person's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct.

Crimes of violence against a current or former spouse or intimate partner; a person with whom the individual shares a child in common; a person with whom the individual cohabitates or has cohabitated as a spouse or intimate partner; a person similarly situated to the individual as a spouse under local domestic laws, or any other person who is protected under local domestic laws of the jurisdiction.

• Physical Abuse: Hitting, slapping, shoving, grabbing, pinching, biting, hair pulling, etc. are types of physical abuse. This type of abuse also includes denying a partner medical care or forcing alcohol and/or drug use upon him or her.
• Sexual Abuse: Coercing or attempting to coerce any sexual contact or behavior without consent. Sexual abuse includes, but is certainly not limited to: marital rape, attacks on sexual parts of the body, forcing sex after physical violence has occurred, or treating one in a sexually demeaning manner.
• Emotional Abuse: Undermining an individual's sense of self-worth and/or self-esteem is abusive. This may include, but is not limited to constant criticism, diminishing one's abilities, name-calling, or damaging one's relationship with his or her children.
• Economic Abuse: Is defined as making or attempting to make an individual financially dependent by maintaining total control over financial resources, withholding one's access to money, or forbidding one's attendance at school or employment.
• Psychological Abuse: Elements of psychological abuse include - but are not limited to - causing fear by intimidation; threatening physical harm to self, partner, children, or partner's family or friends; destruction of pets and property; and forcing isolation from family, friends, or school and/or work.

For more information on North Carolina’s General Statute related to domestic violence, please refer to statute §50B-1 at the North Carolina General Assembly.

Crimes of violence against a person with whom the person has or had a social relationship or a romantic or intimate relationship.

Engaging in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for his/her safety or the safety of others or suffer substantial emotional distress.

For more information on North Carolina’s General Statute related to stalking, please refer to statute §14-277.3A at the North Carolina General Assembly.

Sexual misconduct is not the fault of the victim. It can happen to anyone, and it typically happens from people, in which the victim is acquainted. It is estimated that about 80% of all sexual assaults are committed by an acquaintance and the majority of the assaults occur on a date.

The following is a list of things you can do to reduce the risk of being involved in sexual or relationship abuse.

• Do not put personal information on social media websites.
• Always be aware of your surroundings.
• If you are going out, tell your friends where you are going and who will be with you.
• Stay with a group of friends at the club or the party. Do not get isolated from group, or walk alone.
• Be clear about your emotional and physical boundaries with people and communicate when those boundaries are not being respected.
• Do not accept drinks from strangers and protect the drinks you bought.
• Do not use drugs and carefully monitor your alcohol intake. Both substances can have a negative impact on your judgment.
• Park in areas that have good lighting, and keep your keys in hand.
• Keep your car, room, and/or house locked.
• Limit the amount of items you carry – this is will limit your ability to run or fight.
• Trust your “gut.” If it feels wrong, then it probably is wrong.
• Watch out for your friends and ask them to watch out for you.

The following list of behaviors are common in people who abuse their partner. If you notice any of these warning signs, please seek help from the SCC Campus Police or the Office of Health, Wellness, and Development as soon as possible.

Common warning signs:

• Abuse in previous relationships
• Use of force, threats, or violence in an argument
• Destructive behavior, such as throwing or breaking objects
• Jealousy and controlling behavior
• Cruelty to animals and children
• Isolation of family and friends
• Lack of accountability for their problems
• Unpredictable personality

Bystander intervention can prevent sexual or relationship misconduct from happening to someone. It is important to know what actions and interventions you can take when and if you find yourself in this position. Below are common interventions that you may find helpful.

Common bystander interventions:

• Notice that the offense is occurring by naming or identifying the inappropriate behavior.
• Take action by getting help or by providing a distraction to stop the offense.
• Support the victim by listening, offering reassurance, and encouragement.
• Report the offenses to the proper authorities.
• Speak out and be an advocate for preventing sexual or relationship misconduct.

For more information about bystander intervention please visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center.

There are numerous resources both on-campus and off-campus to anyone that has experienced sexual or relationship violence. A list of the resources can be found under the resources link on our Title IX and VAWA website. The following steps will provide you with a guide if you find yourself involved in sexual or relationship violence.

• Call 911 immediately.
  If the sexual assault happens on-campus or off-campus, the 911 operator will contact the SCC Police Department or the local law enforcement agency.
• Get to a safe place and try to all preserve evidence.
  After an assault, you may be in a state of shock. Wrap yourself in something warm, and try to preserve all evidence.
  Do Not: Bathe/shower/douche, eat/ drink, smoke, brush your teeth or hair, urinate or wash your clothing.
  Put the clothes you were wearing into a paper (not plastic) bag. Plastic bags draws moisture and the moisture could contaminate the evidence.
• Call a trusted friend or family member.
  Receiving comfort and support from a friend or family member helps restore a sense of safety and contributes to better decision-making.
• Seek medical attention.
  You may have injuries of which you’re unaware; you also should be tested for sexually transmitted diseases and pregnancy (if applicable). A medical exam for evidence collection (by a qualified forensic nurse examiner) is strongly recommended and should be done as soon as possible, or at least within 72 hours of the assault.
• Report the assault promptly.
  Reporting an assault does not commit you to filing charges and you can decide at any time not to pursue the case. While it is important that perpetrators be held accountable and prevented from doing this to others, you should never let anyone pressure you if you know you do not want to report.
• Talk with a counselor.
  Working with a counselor can accelerate recovery and help you manage post-traumatic symptoms. At SCC, the Office of Health, Wellness, and Development offers free counseling for students, and can work with you to find community resources that can help you during your time of recovery. The SCC counselor can also speak with you in confidence about the assault.
• Take care of yourself.
  Rest, eat well, seek social support, and engage in activities that are healing for you and your body.

If you are victim of sexual misconduct, please report the incident as soon as possible. Students and employees can report the incident on-campus to our Title IX Coordinator, Deputy Title IX Coordinators, or Campus Police.

Surry Community College – Campus Police Department
A Building, First Floor
Phone: (336) 386-8121

All SCC employees are considered to be mandatory reporters for sexual misconduct. This means that if you disclose a sexual misconduct incident to an SCC employee, they have a duty to report the complaint to a Title IX coordinator or the SCC Campus Police Department. Only certain individuals (counselors, clergy, or health care workers) are classified as voluntary reporters. This type of reporter does not have to disclose the incident unless they think you or the campus community may be in immediate danger.