FACTS ABOUT GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE AND DU'S RESPONSES

Sexual assault is the umbrella term used to describe sexual contact that occurs without consent. Even when
someone known to the victim perpetrates a sexual assault, it is a crime. Being assaulted is never the victim's fault.
Nothing a victim does, says or wears gives anyone the right to assault them, sexually or otherwise. National studies
have shown that the first few weeks of a first-year student's school year are the most vulnerable time for sexual
assault.
Acknowledging this, the University of Denver offers sexual assault prevention, awareness and education programs,
including a required web-based training prior to arriving at campus for beginning undergraduate students, training
about sexual assault awareness and prevention, and reporting options during the Discoveries Orientation, and
throughout the year. All existing and incoming graduate students receive information about Title IX, confidential
resources and reporting options at Graduate Student Orientation. They will also be required to complete a
web-based prevention training program in the 2016-17 academic year. Many graduate programs provide
specific Title IX and CAPE prevention training to all incoming graduate students.
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All University faculty and staff are required to complete Title IX training that addresses DU's gender violence,
harassment and discrimination policy, identification, prevention, and their requirements as mandatory reporters.
This training for faculty and staff is presented live and required in employee orientation meetings and on request
by CAPE or Title IX. It encourages the protection of victims and promotes the accountability of offenders.
DU's Center for Advocacy, Prevention and Empowerment (CAPE) offers primary prevention, bystander
intervention programming, advice, advocacy, information and skills training. The CAPE office offers appointments
Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., in the Asbury office. The University also has an on-call team of
advocates ready to assist survivors of sexual assault, stalking and relationship violence. You can contact the DU
Center for Prevention, Advocacy, and Empowerment (CAPE) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, year-round by calling
303.871.2205 (1-2205).
Title IX conducts training about gender-based violence, Title IX options at DU and about consent. Campus Safety
and Title IX are also available to offer prevention materials and to conduct group educational presentations for
any University program or residence halls and Greek houses, for classes and to other student and employee
groups.
The University will take whatever measures it deems necessary to protect the safety, security and/or integrity of
a complainant, the University and/or any member(s) of its community. A complainant or respondent may request
separation or other protection, or the University may choose to impose interim measures at its discretion to
ensure the safety of all parties, the broader University community, and/ or the integrity of the investigative and/or
resolution process.
Such measures may include, but are not limited to:
Change in class schedule, including the ability to drop a course without penalty or to transfer sections
Change in work schedule or job assignment
Change in a student's campus housing
Assistance from University support staff in completing housing relocation
Limiting access to certain University facilities or activities pending resolution of the matter
Voluntary leave of absence
Providing an escort to assure safe movement between classes and activities
Arranging for medical services
Providing academic support services
Any other remedy that can be tailored to the involved individuals to achieve the goals of these procedures.
Access to counseling services
Assistance in setting up contact with an on-call counselor or initial appointments, both on and off campus
Imposition of a campus "No-Contact Order"
Rescheduling of exams and assignments
Providing alternative course completion option

In matters involving students, the Vice Chancellor for Campus Life and Inclusive Excellence, the Provost, or their
designees, in consultation with the appropriate faculty and/or administrators, will be empowered to impose any
interim measure. In matters involving employees, the appropriate administrator, in consultation with Human
Resources, will make the determination regarding interim measures. In imposing interim measures, the University
will make every effort to minimize the burden on the complainant.
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The University also recognizes its obligation to students who have been accused but not yet found responsible for
misconduct. Therefore, no interim action shall unduly interfere with a respondent's academic progress short of
that deemed necessary to protect the University, any member(s) of its community, and/or its mission. In all cases,
the University will protect the privacy of the involved parties when imposing interim measures and will not
disclose the reasons for the changes other than to
University administrators who need to be involved in implementing the measures.
Additional information regarding the Honor Code as it relates to students, student conduct policies, student
rights and responsibilities, the student conduct process and possible outcomes can be found at:
du.edu/studentconduct. or see appendix of this report.
Victims of gender-based violence or misconduct are encouraged to seek help immediately. On and off-campus
resources are included on pages 3 and 31 of this publication. Further, we encourage all members of the
University community to seek additional education regarding personal safety and the prevention of sexual
assault. See page 5 of this publication for additional information regarding this program.
Prevention
Remember, sexual assault is not just a woman's issue. All genders are possible victims and all genders are
responsible for preventing sexual assault and rape. Suggestions for men working to end sexual violence include:

Notice the Incident-Bystanders must notice the incident taking place. Obviously, if they don't take note
of the situation, there is no reason to help.

Interpret incident as Emergency-Bystanders also need to evaluate the situation and determine whether
it is an emergencyor at least one in which someone needs assistance. Again, if people do not interpret
a situation as one in which someone needs assistance, then there is no need to provide help.

Assume Responsibility-Another decision bystander make is whether they should assume responsibility
for giving help. One repeated finding in research studies on helping is that a bystander is less likely to help
if there are other bystanders present. When other bystanders are present, responsibility for helping is
diffused. If a lone bystander is present, he or she is more likely to assume responsibility.

Attempts to help-Whether this is to help the person leave the situation, confront a behavior, diffuse a
situation, or call for support/security. The best way bystanders can assist in creating an empowering
climate free of interpersonal violence is to diffuse the problem behaviors before they escalate.

Harm Reduction Steps

Remember:
You have the right to set limits. Communicate these limits clearly and verbally.
Trust your instincts. If a situation does not feel right, remove yourself from the situation.
Listen to what your partner is saying. Do not make assumptions.
Speak up when others joke or talk about their sexual conquests.
Let others know where you stand.
Remember, drugs and alcohol decreases your ability to take care of yourself and make decisions.
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There is safety in numbersidentify others who could help you (e.g. friends, party host, RA, campus
safety, police).
Report any incident as soon as possible. It is easy to use your cell phone to notify campus authorities,
the police, or someone who you know could stop it.
Support any friends who disclose to you that they have been assaulted. Believe them and let them make
their own decisions. Do not call authorities without their permission.

Plan ahead:
1. Document their experience, encrypt it, and save it for their own use. No one else, not even Callisto staff
have access to student information.
2.

Document their experience and choose to keep the information confidential unless the person who
assaulted them is reported to have assaulted another student. If this option is chosen, a report will be
sent to DU's Title IX Office when another victim of the same offender reports through Callisto. This option
allows the University to track pattern or repeat offenders.

3.

If a report is made to the Title IX Office in the circumstance, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to each
reporting student to assist them with resources and review options.

4.

Document their experience and send a report to DU's Title IX Office. The Title IX Coordinator will reach
out to the student to assist them with resources and review options.

If you are sexually assaulted, or experience other gender-based violence, contact Campus Safety at 303.871.3000
(1-3000), and CAPE at 303-871-2205 (1-2205) or the Coordinator of Center for Advocacy, Prevention and
Empowerment Office at 303.871.3853 (1-3853).
The DU CAPE and Campus Safety can provide immediate assistance and resources. The most important thing
sexual assault survivors can do is get the support they need and know they are not alone. There are many
options for seeking support, including: Campus Safety, the Center for Advocacy, Prevention and Empowerment
(CAPE), a resident assistant,
a graduate resident director, the police, a friend, a rape crisis center, a hospital, a counselor or the Title IX Office or
someone else you trust. Do not isolate yourself, do not feel guilty, and do not try to ignore it. Whether committed
by a stranger or someone you know, sexual assault is a violation of your body and your trust. Remember, it is never
your fault. And there are people at DU who can help.
If you are assaulted, here are some tips to remember:

Contact CAPE or Safehouse Denver for assistance with safety planning. When you are being harmed by
someone you care about, having someone assist with evaluation of risk can be helpful.

You may also want to explore a no-contact order on campus or a Civil Order of Protection through the
courts.

Reporting to law enforcement is always an option when a partner has engaged in criminal behavior against
you.

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For All Victims of Gender-based Violence

The Title IX Office can talk with you about options for moving forward through the University process. Students
have a right to discuss these options without being required to select or participate in any of the available
options. Students who do not wish to interface with any official response, either on or off campus, may utilize
DU's Callisto website to document their experience of sexual assault and to keep copies of any physical evidence
that can be stored as a photograph or document.
If you wish to have a forensic exam, more evidence can be collected if you do not shower, wash or douche before
the exam. If you have washed following the incident, you may still have evidence collected. You also can save
the clothes you were wearing in a paper bag to preserve evidence and bring these to the hospital with you.
Evidence can be collected up to 72 hours following an event. Even if you do not pursue criminal charges
initially, preserving this evidence can be important in the event that you change your mind later. A survivor has
up to 2 years following evidence collection to make a decision about whether she or he will pursue the criminal
process. Physical evidence is extremely important in any criminal prosecution.
Seek medical attention. You may have internal injuries, and you shouldn't live with the fear of STDs, AIDS or an
unwanted pregnancy. Trained medical staff may also assist you in contacting experienced sexual assault
response team members who can help you file a police report, collect and preserve evidence, and provide
victim assistance and rape crisis advocacy services.

First date, blind date or hook-up? Check your date out with friends. Go to a public place and go with
friends.

Do not leave a party, concert or bar with someone you just met.

If you are receiving unwanted or repeated electronic communications, it is important to save them or
capture them with a screenshot as a record of the unwanted behavior.

Make sure you keep any information you document in a safe location where the partner who harmed
you cannot find it, as it may put you at further risk if they do.

Get counseling to help you deal with your feelings.

If you are a victim of dating or domestic violence or stalking here are some tips to remember:
If you have been injured in any way, seek medical attention. A medical provider can document your injuries
and offer treatment you might need as a result. Document any destruction of property with photographs. If you
have bruising that changes in color over time, you can document that as well.
If someone you know is sexually assaulted:
BELIEVE. Tell them you believe what they are saying and you are there to support them.
EMPOWER. Support your friend, do not tell them what to do. Next steps have to be their decision.
CONNECT. Talk about the DU and community resources that can help.

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