Community Standards

Sexual Misconduct and Relationship Violence Statement

To insure that each member of our community has the opportunity to participate fully in the process of learning and understanding, the University of Connecticut strives to maintain a safe and welcoming environment free from acts of sexual misconduct and relationship violence. It is the intent of the University to provide safety, privacy and support to victims of sexual misconduct and relationship violence.

Prohibited Behaviors

This statement covers but is not limited to the following behaviors:

Sexual Assault

University of Connecticut employees shall not unlawfully distribute, dispense, sell, manufacture, possess, use or be under the influence of drugs or alcohol, not only when they are on the job but whenever they are subject to duty. Neither shall employees unlawfully sell or provide drugs or alcohol to someone else nor shall they have the ability to work impaired as a result of the use of drugs or alcohol.

Non-consensual sexual intercourse, which includes any sexual intercourse (anal, oral, or vaginal), however slight, with any body part or object, by a man, or a woman; without effective consent.

Non-consensual sexual contact, which includes sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by a man or a woman, without effective consent.

Sexual Exploitation, which includes when a student takes non-consensual, unjust, or abusive sexual advantage of another, for his or her own advantage or benefit, or to benefit or advantage any one other than the one being exploited, and that behavior does not otherwise constitute non-consensual sexual intercourse, non-consensual sexual contact, or sexual harassment. Examples of sexual exploitation include, but are not limited to: prostitution, videotaping consensual sex without a partner’s knowledge, peeping tommery, knowingly transmitting sexually transmitted infections without a partner’s knowledge, including incapacitation with the intent to sexually assault.

Stalking

Any behaviors or activities occurring on more than one occasion that collectively instill fear in the victim and/or threaten her/his safety, mental health, and/or physical health. Such behaviors or activities may include, but are not limited to non-consensual communications (face to face, telephone, e-mail), threatening or obscene gestures, surveillance, or showing up outside victim’s classroom or workplace.

Relationship Violence

Physical abuse, which can include but is not limited to slapping, pulling hair, or punching.

Threats of abuse, which can include but is not limited to threatening to hit, harm, or use a weapon on another (whether victim or acquaintance, friend, or family member of the victim), or other forms of verbal threats.

Emotional abuse, which can include but is not limited to damage to one’s property, driving recklessly to scare someone, name calling, threatening to hurt one’s pets. Humiliating one in public, harassment directed toward a current or former partner or spouse.

Any unwelcome sexual advances or requests for sexual favors or any conduct of a sexual nature when:

1. Submission to such conduct is made either explicitly or implicitly a term or condition of an individual’s employment or grade.
2. Submission to or rejection of such conduct by an individual is used as the basis for employment or grading decisions affecting such individual.
3. Such conduct has the purpose or effect of substantially interfering with an individual’s work or academic performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or learning environment.

Examples of Sexual Harassment include: unwelcome sexual advances; suggestive or lewd remarks; unwanted hugs, touches, kisses, requests for sexual favors; retaliation for complaining about sexual harassment; derogatory or pornographic posters, cartoons or drawings in an area in which another person is required to go for work or class purposes.

Common Campus Concerns

Confidentiality

Students can expect that information shared with staff from the Community Response Team, including judicial officers, will not be disclosed without the student»s permission and/or knowledge.

Definition of Consent

Consent must be informed, freely and actively given, and an understandable exchange of affirmative words or actions, which indicate a willingness to participate in mutually agreed upon sexual activity. It is the responsibility of the initiator to obtain clear and affirmative responses at each stage of sexual involvement. The lack of a negative response is not consent. Consent may not be given by any individual who is intoxicated or incapacitated by drug and/or alcohol both voluntarily or involuntarily. Past consent of sexual activities does not imply ongoing future consent.

Fear of Retaliation

Retaliation against a person for filing a complaint, or against witnesses for providing testimony during an investigation, is also prohibited and can be filed as a separate charge under these procedures.

Misconduct by non-students

Our Student Code applies to University of Connecticut students. If the person who has committed the misconduct is not a part of the university community, the victim should speak with members of the CRT to discuss options, such a police and court action. If however this person who committed the misconduct is a guest of a UConn student, we may address the behavior through the person who hosted the individual. If the person who has committed the misconduct is a faculty or staff member, the appropriate office to notify is the Office of Diversity and Equity.

Sanctioning

Sanctions depend on many factors including the severity of the violation, the accused student’s prior record, opportunity for education, and the potential and actual impact on the community. Sanctions for sexual assault or relationship violence could include loss of visitation to parts of campus, loss of the ability to contact a certain individual, loss of housing, suspension, or expulsion.

Simultaneous violations

Often sexual assaults occur when alcohol or other drugs are involved. If the victim of a sexual assault is under the legal drinking age or under the influence of another drug, s/he should not be concerned that if s/he comes forward that s/he will be “in trouble” for the violation. With few exceptions, simultaneous less serious violations by a victim will not be a focus of a judicial proceeding.

Lapse of time in reporting

There is no time limit within which complaints must be filed within the campus judicial system. We recognize that the decision to file a complaint is difficult and may take some time, but because memories fade and witnesses graduate or become inaccessible the sooner the information is gathered, the more solid the case. Further, once a person has graduated, there is less ability for the University to effectively investigate and sanction. There are time limits for police response, which vary by state and by crime.

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