Earlham College has made a commitment to the values clearly stated in our Principles and Practices document: respect for persons, integrity, peace and justice, simplicity and consensus governance. These principles undergird our Sexual Assault Policy and guide the College disciplinary process. Principles and Practices not only tells us unambiguously that sexual assault is intolerable behavior, but encourages us as a community to work actively toward creating an environment in which any inclination toward sexual assault is unthinkable.

Earlham College does not tolerate sexual assault committed by any of our members (faculty, staff, regularly enrolled and special students), or against any of our members, on or off campus. Any party can be a victim or perpetrator of sexual assault and, therefore, this policy is gender neutral. We respond to and investigate all reports of sexual assault and report assaults to local law enforcement when guided by the law to do so.

Campus Safety and Security officers, staff and administrative and teaching faculty follow clear processes, both in Richmond and on off-campus programs (subject to the laws and policies of particular countries and host institutions), when responding to a report of sexual assault.

We also pursue sexual assault complaints that violate this policy and/or the principles of the College as represented in the Principles and Practices document, even if they are not matters for law enforcement, and pursue those complaints according to the practice of our College Judicial Processes depending on the status of the accused: for students through the College Judicial Council and for faculty/staff through the procedures established by the Harassment Policy. The College does its best to protect complainants from any possible retaliation stemming from their complaint.

Earlham College supports any members of our community who become victims of sexual assault. We offer immediate help and also referrals to appropriate persons and organizations, often including but not limited to, local police, hospitals, advocacy groups and counseling and crisis centers. Whenever possible, members of off-campus programs receive a list of resources available at or near their program site and in advance of the program. In the aftermath of a sexual assault the College works to create and accommodate alternative living, working and academic arrangements as appropriate.[1]

Earlham College supports a program that educates the community about sexual assault on Earlham’s campus, on college campuses in general and in society at large. This is accomplished through campus programs and workshops as well as by making the entire Sexual Assault Policy document, a resource for referral and education, available to all members of the Earlham College community. It is included in the Student, Faculty and Employee Handbooks and is posted on Earlham’s Web site; it is updated regularly.

[1}The College reserves the right to make changes in living arrangements to reduce risks of harm or injury to students.