If you are a Surry Community College student or employee you can find answers to a lot of questions related to Title IX and the Violence Against Women's Act below.
The following is list of the policies and procedures relevant to Title IX, VAWA, and Student Code of Conduct.
If you have any questions, please contact one of our Title IX coordinators.
In order for individuals to engage in sexual activity of any type with each other, there must be clear, knowing, and voluntary consent prior to and during sexual activity. In order to give effective consent, one must be of legal age. In North Carolina, the legal age of consent is 16 years of age.
Consent is:
Consent is not:
Alcohol and/or other drugs can place the capacity to consent in question. When alcohol and/or other drugs are being used, a person will be considered unable to give valid consent if they cannot fully understand the details of a sexual interaction (who, what, when, where, why, or how) because they lack the capacity to reasonably understand the situation. Individuals who consent to sex must be able to understand what they are doing. This also covers a person of whose capacity to consent is altered due to mental disability, sleep, involuntary physical restraint, or from taking date rape drugs (Rohypnol, GHB, Ketamine, Burundanga, etc.).
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 unwelcome, gender-based verbal or physical conduct that is sufficiently severe, persistent, or pervasive that it unreasonably interferes with, denies or limits someone’s ability to participate or benefit from the College’s educational programs and/or activities. Sexual harassment is based on power differentials (quid pro quo), which can create a hostile environment, and/or be retaliatory in nature.
Examples include:
Types of Sexual Harassment:
Force is the use of physical violence and/or imposing on someone physically to gain sexual access. Force also includes threats, intimidation (implied threats) and coercion that overcome resistance or produce consent.
There is no requirement that a party resists the sexual advance or request, but resistance is a clear demonstration of non-consent. The presence of force is not demonstrated by the absence of resistance. Sexual activity that is forced is by definition non-consensual, but non-consensual sexual activity is not defined by force.
Non-consensual sexual conduct is any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by a man or woman upon a man or woman that is without consent and/or by force.
For more information on North Carolina’s General Statutes related to Non-Consensual Sexual Contact, please refer to statutes §14-27.4, §14-27.4A, §14-27.5, and §14-27.5A at the North Carolina General Assembly.
Non-consensual intercourse is any sexual intercourse, however slight, with any object, by a man or woman upon a man or woman that is without consent and/or by force.
For more information on North Carolina’s General Statutes related to Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse, please refer to statutes §14-27.2, §14-27.2A, §14-27.3, §14-27.7, §14-27.7A, and §14-27.8 at the North Carolina General Assembly.
Sexual exploitation occurs when a person takes a non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for his/her own advantage or benefit, or to benefit or advantage anyone other than the one being exploited, and that behavior does not otherwise constitute one of other sexual misconduct offenses.
Examples include, but are not limited to:
As defined by the Office on Violence Against Women, US Department of Justice, domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior in any relationship that is used by one partner to gain or maintain power and control over another intimate partner. Domestic violence can be physical, sexual, emotional, economic, or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that intimidate, manipulate, humiliate, isolate, frighten, terrorize, coerce, threaten, blame, hurt, injure, or wound someone.
Domestic violence can happen to anyone regardless of race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Domestic violence occurs in both opposite-sex and same-sex relationships and can happen to intimate partners who are married, living together, or dating.
Domestic violence not only affects those who are abused, but also has a substantial effect on family members, friends, co-workers, other witnesses, and the community at large. Children who grow up witnessing domestic violence are among those seriously affected by this crime. Frequent exposure to violence in the home not only predisposes children to numerous social and physical problems, but also teaches them that violence is a normal way of life, thereby increasing their risk of becoming society's next generation of victims and abusers.
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.
As defined by the Office on Violence Against Women, US Department of Justice, violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim is dating violence. The existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors:
The North Carolina General Statute §50B-1 for domestic violence also includes dating violence within the statute.
As defined by the Office on Violence Against Women, US Department of Justice, stalking is a pattern of repeated and unwanted attention, harassment, contact, or any other course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to feel fear.
Stalking can include:
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.
Gender-based and/or 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.
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:
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:
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.
If you are victim of gender-based and/or 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 DepartmentA Building, First FloorPhone: (336) 386-8121
All SCC employees are considered to be mandatory reporters for gender-based and sexual misconduct. This means that if you disclose a gender-based or 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.
Choosing a college is an important decision, and we’re pleased that you’re interested in Surry Community College.