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Restorative Justice & Title IX Office

Western Colorado University is dedicated to the safety, well-being, and belonging of all folx including students, faculty, staff and visitors. Through a restorative justice model, the Restorative Justice & Title IX Office ensures compliance with institutional policy, state and federal laws. 

Our Services

Our Policies

Reporting Options

Options for Reporting Reports may be made in a few formats including handwritten, email, and/or online reporting form.

Who is Responsible for Reporting?

Responsible Employees are responsible for reporting. The following professionals have been identified as Responsible Employees:

  • Faculty
  • Academic Affairs Administrators
  • Student Affairs Administrators
  • Certain Residence Life Staff including the Director and Assistant Director of Residence Life and Resident Advisors,
  • Coaches
  • Supervisors
  • Director of Human Resources
  • President and Vice Presidents of the University

Parenting and Pregnant Student Support

Title IX federal law protects pregnant and parenting students. At Western we recognize the dynamic process of birthing and parenting, that is why we provide supportive measures to ensure that students are successful as they champion their educational dreams.

Know Your Rights

Workforce

The Title IX Coordinator and Title IX Investigator are required to be trained.

Students

Student Athletes

  • Student-Athletes are educated annually through a partnership between the Department of Athletics and the Restorative Justice and Title IX Office. This training is specialized and tailored for student-athletes.

Students

  • All students are required to complete an interactive educational experience upon admission to Western. Students may request more training by emailing tix@western.edu.

Student Employees

  • Student employees of the Department of Residence Life and Housing are trained annually in Title IX law and university policy. They are considered Responsible Employees.

Terminology

An individual who is alleged to be the victim of conduct that could constitute sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment.

A document filed by a Complainant or signed by the Title IX Coordinator alleging sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment against a Respondent and requesting that Western investigate the allegation of sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment.

An employee who has the obligation to report alleged sexual misconduct and/or sexual harassment and alleged retaliation to the Title IX Coordinator.

Complainant or Respondent.

An individual who has been reported to be the perpetrator of conduct that could constitute sexual misconduct.

Intimidation, threats, coercion or discrimination against any individual for the purpose of interfering with any right or privilege secured by the Sexual Misconduct Prohibition policy and Title IX or its implementing regulation, or because the individual has made a report or complaint, testified, assisted, or participated or refused to participate in any manner in an investigation, proceeding, or hearing under this policy. Such retaliation shall be dealt with as a separate instance of sexual misconduct.

Sexual Harassment as defined in the Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, Section 3.5 of the Board of Trustees Policy Manual, whether or not the misconduct falls within the scope of that policy:

  • Conduct committed by a student that, if committed by an employee, would constitute Quid Pro Quo under the Policy Prohibiting Sexual Harassment, Section 3.5 of the Board of Trustees Policy Manual, whether or not the misconduct falls within the scope of that police;
  • Conduct that is severe, pervasive or objectively offensive
  • Sexual Exploitation, defined as actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, power differential, or trust, for sexual purposes, including but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another

When there are:

  • Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature; and
  • Submission to or rejection of such conduct results in adverse educational or employment action; or
  • Affects the terms or conditions of education or employment or activities with the University.

When there are:

  • Refers to physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent. A number of different acts fall into the category of sexual assault, including, without limitation, rape, statutory rape, sexual violence, domestic violence, incest, sexual batter and sexual coercion. All such acts of sexual assault are forms of sexual misconduct covered under the Sexual Misconduct Prohibition Policy including, without limitation:
  • Non-consensual sexual contact, including sexual touching, groping and fondling
  • Non-consensual sexual intercourse, including vaginal, anal, and/or oral penetration by a body part of by an object.

Includes felony or misdemeanor crimes of violence committed by a current or former spouse or intimate partner of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a child in common, by a person similarly situated to a spouse of the victim under the domestic or family violence laws of the State of Colorado, or by any other person against an adult or youth victim who is protected from that person’s acts under the domestic or family violence laws of the jurisdiction.

Violence by a person who has been in a romantic or intimate relationship with the Complainant. Whether there was such a relationship will be gauged by its length, type and frequency of interaction.

Course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable person to fear for their safety, or to suffer substantial emotional distress. Stalking may take the form of, but is not limited to, harassing telephone calls, electronic communications and/or letter-writing.

Affirmative, knowing and voluntary words or actions that create a mutually understandable and clear agreement to engage in sexual activity. It is the responsibility of each person involved in the sexual activity to ensure that they have affirmative consent of the other or others to engage in the sexual activity. Silence, lack of protest, or resistance, by themselves cannot be interpreted as consent. Consent must be ongoing throughout a sexual activity and can be revoked at any time. The existence of a dating relationship between the persons involved, or the fact of past sexual relations between them, by itself cannot be interpreted as consent. Consent is not effectively given if force, threats, intimidation or coercion were involved, or if a person is incapable of giving consent due to use of drugs or alcohol, or due to intellectual or other disability.

For the purposes of this policy, days refers to Calendar Days meaning every day of the week regardless of weekends and holidays.

Policy and Law

Title IX is a federal law that applies to educational institutions including colleges and universities of the United States. The law protects all people from discrimination based on sex. The law 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.”

Western Colorado University prohibits sexual misconduct per Section 3.5 of the Trustee Policy Manual.

Department Information

Restorative Justice & Title IX Office

Interim Director of Restorative Justice & Title IX Coordinator

Patty Hartshorn, M.S.

Director of Restorative Justice and Title IX Coordinator

Contact Information

970.943.2122

civilrightsRJTIX@western.edu

8 a.m. - 5 p.m., M-F

Campus Location

Library 122B
Gunnison, CO 81231

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