Sexual Misconduct / Title IX

Title IX is a federal civil right that prohibits sex discrimination in education. it is a prohibition against sex-based discrimination in education. It addresses discrimination against pregnant and parenting students and gender discrimination in educational programs. It also addresses sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, and sexual violence.  Title IX applies to all students, faculty and staff.

1. Title IX is a federal civil right that prohibits sex discrimination in education. it is a prohibition against sex-based discrimination in education. It addresses discrimination against pregnant and parenting students and gender discrimination in educational programs. It also addresses sexual harassment, gender-based discrimination, and sexual violence. Title IX applies to all students, faculty and staff.
2. Carroll Community College takes immediate steps to address any sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual violence on campus to prevent it from affecting the campus community further.
3. Procedures are established for handling complaints of sex discrimination, sexual harassment or sexual violence. The Title IX Coordinator can be contacted here: Kiersten Meyers
   TitleIX@carrollcc.edu
   Phone: 410-386-8329
   Office: A101
   If you decide to file a complaint, the coordinator will promptly conduct an inquiry and discuss next steps.
4. Carroll will take immediate action to ensure involved parties can continue their education free of ongoing sex discrimination, sexual harassment, retaliation or sexual violence.
5. Carroll Community College will not retaliate against someone filing a complaint and will keep complainant and respondent safe from retaliatory harassment or behavior.
6. A no contact directive under Title IX can be issued to both parties from interacting with each other. This includes direct contact, email, social media and through friends.
7. You, as a student, can help others by stepping in, speaking up, and preventing discrimination. If you are uncomfortable doing so directly, please report to the Title IX Coordinator.
8. If one desires details of an incident be kept confidential, they should speak with off-campus rape crisis resources, licensed health and mental health care providers, licensed counselors or members of the clergy and chaplains to determine under what circumstances such individuals are able to maintain confidentiality. If you are unsure of someone’s ability to maintain your privacy, ask before you talk to them.

The Following Organizations Are Available to Provide Confidential Support:

• Carroll County Domestic Violence Hotline
  Phone: 443-865-8031
• Rape Crisis Intervention Service
  Hotline:  410-857-7322; 410-857-0900 V/TTY
  Website:  www.rapecrisiscc.org
  Address:  224 N. Center St, #102, Westminster, MD 21157
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA)
  Website:  www.mcasa.org
• Carroll Hospital Center
  200 Memorial Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157
  Phone:410-386-3000; TTY: 410-386-7186
• Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (S.A.F.E.) Program
  Hotline: 410-857-7322 TTY: 410-857-0900
  Website:  www.lifebridgehealth.org/Carroll/AdultSAFEProgram.aspx

What to Do if you are a victim of stalking, sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/domestic violence, or other gender based issues:

• Get to a Safe Place
• Create a Safety Plan
• Talk to Someone You Trust
• Preserve Physical Evidence: Keep emails, text messages, social media posting or any other digital information regarding the incident.  In the case of physical or sexual assault, do not bathe, change your clothing, use the restroom or brush your teeth until evidence has been collected.
• Seek Medical Attention / Counseling: Local hospitals can provide medical services and evidence collection.  For severe injuries, call 911 immediately.
• Report the Incident: Student are encouraged to report crimes to Campus Police, the Title IX Coordinator or Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.

Note:

• You may report if the incident occurs on or off campus.
• Retaliation against anyone who reports sexual assault is strictly prohibited.  Reports of retaliatory behavior will be addressed immediately.
• Victims may request protective measures by contacting the Title IX Coordinator, Kiersten Meyers
  TitleIX@carrollcc.edu
  Phone: 410-386-8329
  Office: A101

On-Campus Resources

All College faculty and staff are required to report gender-based and sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator. Before discussing an incident with a potential victim, faculty or staff member must inform the person of faculty/staff responsibility to report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator. Once an incident is shared with faculty/staff, it must be reported. Title IX Coordinator, Kiersten Meyers
TitleIX@carrollcc.edu
Phone: 410-386-8329
Office: A101

Confidentiality

If one desires details of an incident be kept confidential, they should speak with off-campus rape crisis resources, licensed health and mental health care providers, licensed counselors or members of the clergy and chaplains to determine under what circumstances such individuals are able to maintain confidentiality. If you are unsure of someone’s ability to maintain your privacy, ask before you talk to them. The following organizations are available to provide confidential support:

• Carroll County Domestic Violence Hotline:
  Phone: 443-865-8031
• Rape Crisis Intervention Service
  Website: www.rapecrisiscc.org
  Hotline:  410-857-7322
  Phone:  410-857-0900 V/TTY
  Address: 224 N. Center St., #102, Westminster, MD
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA):
  Website: www.mcasa.org
• Carroll Hospital Center
  Address: 200 Memorial Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157
  Phone: 410-386-3000
  TTY: 410-386-7186
• Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (S.A.F.E.) Program
  Phone: 410-876-6655
  Website: www.lifebridgehealth.org/Carroll/AdultSAFEProgram.aspx

Additional Campus Resources

• Campus Police – Carroll Community College; 410-386-8123 (emergency) 410-386-8600 (office)
• Title IX Coordinator, Kiersten Meyers
  TitleIX@carrollcc.edu
  Phone: 410-386-8329
  Office: A101
• Title IX Deputy Coordinator, Lisa Kuhn 410-386-8032. office: A137

Off-Campus Resources

• Carroll County Domestic Violence
  Hotline: 443-865-8031
• Rape Crisis Intervention Service
  www.rapecrisiscc.org
  Hotline:  410-857-7322
  Phone:  410-857-0900 V/TTY
• Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA): mcasa.org
• Carroll County Sheriff Office: 100 North Court Street, Westminster, Maryland
  Emergency:  911
  410-386-2900
• Maryland State Police
  Barrack G – 1100 Baltimore Boulevard, Westminster, Maryland
  410-386-3000
• Carroll Hospital Center
  200 Memorial Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157
  Phone: 410-386-3000
  TTY: 410-386-7186
• Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (S.A.F.E.) Program
  www.lifebridgehealth.org/Carroll/AdultSAFEProgram.aspx
  410-876-6655

Reporting Options

Complainants are not required to file a crime report but are encouraged to do so and will be assisted by campus authorities in notifying local law enforcement if the complainant chooses.  Regardless of whether a victim opts to report the crime, supportive measures will be provided if the complainant requests them and if they are reasonably available.

Grievance Process

All College faculty and staff are required to report gender-based and sexual misconduct to the Title IX Coordinator.  The Title IX Coordinator will determine the next steps in the grievance process.

The Title IX Coordinator, after having an incident formally reported to them, will determine whether an investigation is warranted under the Title IX policy.  Depending on the nature of the incident, the necessity of informing College Public Safety and local law enforcement will also be determined as well as the next steps of the grievance process. The Complainant and Respondent will receive in writing the allegations.

If warranted, the Title IX Coordinator will designate a team of two trained Title IX College investigators to work in tandem as neutral parties and available to both complainant and respondent to fully investigate the case, initiate possible supportive measures, and the next steps of the grievance process, which may include a live hearing with trained decision makers.

The Title IX Coordinator and the Office of Public Safety and Security may assist the complainant in making a report to law enforcement.

Stalking is a pattern of threats or harassment that is directed repeatedly toward a specific individual and is experienced as unwelcome, intrusive, or fear inducing. It can include physical appearances of the stalker and harassing behaviors such as sending unwanted letters, phone calls, messages, gifts, and instant messages/e-mail correspondence.

Stalking is difficult to identify at first. Initially, a victim may not feel there is any cause for alarm and may simply be annoyed by the behavior. As the behavior continues, it tends to escalate and become more overt, and this often causes the victim to begin to fear for his or her safety.

Stalking Behaviors Might Include:

• Damage to vehicle, home or other personal property
• Repeated telephone calls and/or hang-ups
• Threats to harm the victim or threats to harm the victim’s family, friends or pets
• Driving by or showing up at the victim’s house and/or work
• Disturbing instant messages
• Sending unwanted letters, e-mails, faxes or gifts
• Using global positioning systems, online searches and cameras to track a person’s movements

What Can I Do If I’m Being Physically Stalked? 

1. CUT OFF ALL COMMUNICATION with the stalker. Screen your calls, block digital access.
2. TELL SOMEONE. Do not attempt to deal with the situation alone. Tell a friend or family member about the stalking.
3. CREATE A SAFETY PLAN and share it with your friends.
4. ALERT people around you. Neighbors, coworkers, and campus security can help watch out for you.
5. DOCUMENT the stalker’s behavior. List the date, time and place, what happened, any witnesses and what the stalker was doing, saying and wearing.
6. REPORT the crime. On campus you can report it to security or ask the staff to help direct you.
7. SEEK a protective order.

What Can I Do If I Am Being Harassed Online or Cyberstalked?

• TELL the person harassing you to stop in straight forward terms: “Leave me alone. Do not contact me again.” Cut off all communication.
• IF YOU ARE LOGGED onto instant messaging, block them on social media and log off if needed.
• AFTER TELLING the person to leave you alone, do not reply to any of their attempts to contact you.
• SAVE, PRINT, AND KEEP all harassing messages.
• CONTACT the harasser’s Internet Service Provider and file a complaint
• DELETE online personal information such as address, phone number, etc.
• IF you feel you are in PHYSICAL DANGER, contact the police.

Whether you are a parent, professor, administrator, student, coworker, or friend—you can make a difference in someone’s life by noticing the warning signs of sexual assault and abusive relationships. Sexual violence, like many other crimes, can occur on college campuses and at locations frequented by college students.

In seven out of ten cases of sexual assault, the perpetrator is someone the victim knows. This can make it more difficult for someone to be open about sexual assault, particularly if the perpetrator is part of a friend group, a classmate, or someone who is well liked by other peers. No matter who the alleged perpetrator is, the survivor deserves support and care.

Warning Signs That a College-Age Adult May Have Been Sexually Assaulted

Some of the warning signs for sexual assault in college-age adults may be caused by events that are unrelated, such as being way from home for the first time. It’s better to ask and be wrong than to let the person you care about struggle with the effects of sexual assault. You can ask questions that point to a specific person or time like, “Did something happen with the person you met at the party the other night?” You can also simply reaffirm that you will believe them when they are ready to come forward, and that it’s not their fault.
If you notice these warning signs in a college-age adult, it is worth reaching out to them:

• Signs of depression, such as persistent sadness, lack of energy, changes in sleep or appetite, withdrawing from normal activities, or feeling “down”
• Self-harming behaviors, thoughts of suicide, or suicidal behaviors
• Low self-esteem
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
• Anxiety or worry about situations that did not seem to cause anxiety in the past
• Avoiding specific situations or places
• Falling grades or withdrawing from classes
• Increase in drug or alcohol use

Warning Signs That Could Lead to Sexual Assault

The majority of sexual assaults are committed by someone the victim knows, such as a friend, family member, acquaintance, or partner.1 Often, abusive partners will try to cut the victim off from their support system. As someone outside of the relationship, you have the potential to notice warning signs that someone may be in an abusive relationship or at risk for sexual assault.
Some warning signs include:

• Withdrawing from other relationships or activities, for example, spending less time with friends, leaving sports teams, or dropping classes
• Saying that their partner doesn’t want them to engage in social activities or is limiting their contact with others
• Disclosing that sexual assault has happened before
• Any mention of a partner trying to limit their contraceptive options or refusing to use safer sexual practices, such as refusing to use condoms or not wanting them to use birth control
• Mentioning that their partner is pressuring them to do things that make them uncomfortable
• Signs that a partner controlling their means of communication, such as answering their phone or text messages or intruding into private conversations
• Visible signs of physical abuse, such as bruises or black eyes

Using Technology to Hurt Others

College-age adults may also experience sexual harassment or other unwanted behaviors through technology and online interactions. Some people use technology—such as digital photos, videos, apps, and social media—to engage in harassing, unsolicited, or non-consensual sexual interactions. It can leave the person on the other end feeling manipulated, unsafe, and exposed, like when someone forwards a text, photo, or “sext” intended only for the original recipient. The laws pertaining to these situations vary from state to state and platform to platform, and they are evolving rapidly. Learn more about the ways people use technology to hurt others.

Remember, you are not alone. If you suspect sexual abuse you can talk to someone who is trained to help. Call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673) or chat online at online.rainn.org.

Carroll Community College’s Title IX team training is an ongoing effort. Trainings include in-house meetings and trainings with Title IX experts. Please see the below link containing trainings and resources that our team has attended and completed.

https://atixa.org/2020-regulations-requirement-posting-of-training-materials/

Campus Police
Emergency Phone: 410-386-8123
Office Phone: 410-386-8600
RoomA137

Title IX Coordinator

Kiersten Meyers
TitleIX@carrollcc.edu
Phone: 410-386-8329
Office: A101

Deputy Title IX Coordinator
Lisa Kuhn, Human Resources
lkuhn@carrollcc.edu
Phone: 410-386-8032
Room: A138

Rape Crisis Intervention Services of Carroll County
224 North Center Street, Room I 02
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-857-0900

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (S.A.F.E.) Program
Carroll Hospital Center
200 Memorial Avenue
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-876-6655. or 41 0-848-3000
TTY: 410-871-7186

Maryland Crisis Hotline, Grassroots Crisis Intervention
6700 Freetown Road
Columbia, MD, 21044
Phone: 800-422-0009
Purpose: to provide crisis intervention services to anyone in need, 365 days a year.

Rape Crisis Intervention Services of Carroll County
224 North Center Street, Room 102
Westminster, MD, 21157
or
PO Box 1563
Westminster, MD, 21158
Phone: 410-857-0900
Purpose: to provide counseling and support services to people in the community hurt by sexual violence, and to eliminate sexual violence in Carroll County through education and advocacy.

Sexual Assault Forensic Examiner (S.A.F.E.) Program
Carroll Hospital Center
200 Memorial Avenue
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-876-6655,  or 410-848-3000 TTY: 410-871-7186

Domestic Violence Program
22 North Court Street
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-876-l233
Purpose: To provide treatment for families experiencing physical and emotional abuse.

Carroll County Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
59 Kate Wagner Road
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-848-2500
Purpose: Outpatient mental health and substance abuse services to children, adolescents, families and adults

Family and Children’s Services of Central Maryland
22 North Court Street
Westminster, MD  21157
Phone: 410-876-1233
Purpose: To assist families who are facing separation, domestic violence, child sexual abuse, and other hardships that damage and disrupt their lives.

Carroll County Public Defender
101 North Court Street, Suite 140
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-871-3636
Purpose: To provide legal representation for indigent defendants at all stages of criminal, serious traffic, and juvenile proceedings in Carroll County.

Carroll County State’s Attorney 
55 North Court Street, Suite 100
Westminster, MD, 21157
or
PO Box 606
Westminster, MD, 21158
Phone: 41 0-386-2671
Purpose: To prosecute, on behalf of the state, all criminal cases in the District, Circuit, and Juvenile Courts, such as robbery, assault, and murder.

Carroll County Victim Witness Assistance Unit
Carroll County State’s Attorney’s Office
55 North Court Street Westminster, MD, 21157
or
PO Box 606
Westminster, MD, 21158
Phone: 410-386-2671
Purpose: To provide support and assistance to victims and witnesses of homicide, sexual assault, child abuse, burglaries, serious assaults, and domestic violence and certain more serious misdemeanor cases.

Protection Order Advocacy and Representation Project (POARP)
Women’s Law Center of Maryland 55 North Court Street, Suite 208
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-386-2440
Purpose: To support domestic violence clients as they navigate the legal process for obtaining peace and/or protection orders, and emergency evaluation

Ambulatory Care Addictions Programming, Behavioral Health Services
Carroll Hospital Center
200 Memorial Avenue
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-871-711 0
Purpose: To provide substance abuse treatment, education, and support in structured setting

Carroll County Health Department, Outpatient Treatment Services
Bureau of Prevention, Wellness, and Recovery 290 South Center Street
Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-876-4800
Purpose: To provide substance abuse education and treatment to Carroll County residents over the age of 18 with substance use, abuse, and dependence disorders.

Carroll County Youth Service Bureau, Inc.
59 Kate Wagner Road
Westminster, MD, 21157 Phone: 410-848-2500
Purpose: outpatient mental health and substance abuse services to children, adolescents, families, and adults.

Mountain Manor Treatment Center, Westminster Adult Outpatient
Carroll Plaza Shopping Center
Rt 140 and Englar Road, Suite 20C Westminster, MD, 21157
Phone: 410-876-2425
Purpose: To provide outpatient drug and alcohol treatment, and inpatient assessments.

West Central Intergroup of Maryland, Alcoholics Anonymous
2 East Church Street
Frederick, MD, 21701
Phone:  310-662-0544
Purpose: To assist alcoholics through group meetings with other alcoholics.