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Responsible Reporters

If a student discloses to you that they are the victim of sexual or domestic violence...

1. Determine if the victim requires immediate medical assistance. If so, call:

  • On Campus: Schacht Center Medical Services at 413-585-2250 or 911. 
  • Off Campus: Cooley Dickinson Hospital at 413-582-2750.

2. Ask the victim if they would like you to contact campus safety immediately. If so, call the Smith College Department of Campus Safety at 413-585-2490. If not, respect the victim’s wishes.

3. Advise the victim that you can protect their privacy, but you cannot promise confidentiality. Tell the victim that you, as a responsible employee of the college, are required to report the incident to the college’s Title IX Coordinator, but you will not tell anyone else with the exception of your supervisor for consultation purposes. Let the victim know that the Title IX Coordinator will likely be in touch with them via email. When you have finished helping the student through the rest of the steps in this guide, the Title IX Coordinator can be reached at malexander@smith.edu.

4. Remind the victim that acts of sexual misconduct, such as sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking are never the fault of the victim. Thank the victim for telling you what happened and provide them with the following list of resources. Resources can also be found in college brochures available from the Title IX Coordinator. Please inform the victim that their best resource on campus for support and additional information about reporting options is the Title IX Coordinator.

On Campus

  • Campus Safety: 414-585-2490
  • Medical Services: 413-585-2250
  • Counseling Services: 413-585-2840
  • Title IX Coordinator: 413-585-2141
  • Dean of Students: 413-585-4940
  • Center for Religious and Spiritual Life: 413-585-2750
  • Assistant Director of Student Affairs: 413-585-4908

5. Advise the victim that they have the right to file a complaint or not to file a complaint with the college. Explain that they can submit a report online, and can choose to stay anonymous in that report. Title IX information describes the filing process, or the victim may be in touch with the Title IX Coordinator directly to better understand the process. The interim Title IX Coordinator can be reached at titleixcoordinator@smith.edu.

6. Advise the victim that they have the right to contact or not to contact the police at any time. Please also inform the victim that you are required to report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator, but the victim does not have to file a formal complaint. They can come back to file a formal complaint at any point in time. Let them know the Title IX Coordinator will provide more information about the process and will likely contact the student through email.

7. Some victims are in situations where they don’t feel safe going to classes, going home or going to work. Let the victim know that there are people on campus that can help them. Advise the victim that assistance can be provided by the college (Title IX Coordinator or Dean of Students) for changing housing, academic, and working situations, or any other interim measures if requested by the victim and if reasonably available, regardless of whether the victim chooses to report the situation to the police or file a formal complaint via the Title IX Office.

8. Inform the victim that they are protected from retaliation for filing a report or seeking other assistance. Findings of retaliation could result in policy violation charges. Smith College wants to make certain the fear of retaliation does not prevent the victim from reporting the incident either to the police or formally to the college. If the victim experiences any retaliation, they should immediately contact the Title IX Coordinator. Make the student aware of the college’s Gender-Based and Sexual Misconduct Policy.

If a student discloses to you that they know someone who they believe is the victim of sexual or domestic violence...

1. Ask the student if the person they believe is a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence is another Smith student, a former Smith student, a Smith staff or faculty member, a person visiting the campus, etc. 

2. Ask the student if the person they believe is a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence requires immediate medical assistance. If yes, offer to help the student and/or victim make the necessary phone calls, and provide the student with these telephone numbers: 

  • On Campus: Schacht Center Medical Services at 413-585-2250 or 911. 
  • Off Campus: Cooley Dickinson Hospital at 413-582-2750.

3. Advise the student that you can protect their privacy, but you cannot promise confidentiality. Tell the student that you, as a responsible employee of the college, are required to report the incident to the college’s Title IX Coordinator, but you will not tell anyone else. Let the student know that the Title IX Coordinator will likely be in touch with them via email, as well as the victim if they wish to disclose the victim’s name to you. Ask the student whether they understand your role as a responsible reporter, and ask if they feel comfortable disclosing the name of the person they believe is a victim of sexual assault or domestic violence to you. When you have finished helping the student through the rest of the steps in this guide, the interim Title IX Coordinator can be reached at titleixcoordinator@smith.edu.  

4. Remind the student that acts of sexual misconduct, such as sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking are never the fault of the victim. Thank the student for telling you what happened and provide them with the following list of resources. Resources can also be found in college brochures available from the Title IX Coordinator. Please inform the student that their best resource on campus for support and additional information about reporting options is the Title IX Coordinator.

On Campus

  • Campus Safety: 414-585-2490
  • Medical Services: 413-585-2250
  • Counseling Services: 413-585-2840
  • Title IX Coordinator: 413-585-2141
  • Dean of Students: 413-585-4940
  • Center for Religious and Spiritual Life: 413-585-2750
  • Assistant Director of Student Affairs: 413-585-4908

5. Advise the student that they, and/or the victim, have the right to file a complaint or not to file a complaint with the college. Explain that they can submit a report online, and can choose to stay anonymous in that report. Title IX information describes the filing process, or the student and/or victim may be in touch with the Title IX Coordinator directly to better understand the process. The interim Title IX Coordinator can be reached at titleixcoordinator@smith.edu.

6. Advise the student that they and/or the victim have the right to contact or not to contact the police at any time. Please also inform the student that you are required to report the incident to the Title IX Coordinator, but neither the student nor the victim has to file a formal complaint. They can come back to file a formal complaint at any point in time. Let them know the Title IX Coordinator will provide more information about the process and will likely contact the student through email.

7. Some victims are in situations where they don’t feel safe going to classes, going home or going to work. Let the student know that there are people on campus that can help the victim with these situations. Advise the student that assistance can be provided to the victim by the college (Title IX Coordinator or Dean of Students) for changing housing, academic, and working situations, or any other interim measures if requested by the victim and if reasonably available, regardless of whether the victim chooses to report the situation to the police or file a formal complaint via the Title IX Office.

8. Inform the student that both they and the victim are protected from retaliation for filing a report or seeking other assistance. Findings of retaliation could result in policy violation charges. Smith College wants to make certain the fear of retaliation does not prevent the victim or any student from reporting the incident either to the police or formally to the college. If the student or victim experiences any retaliation, they should immediately contact the Title IX Coordinator. Make the student aware of the college's Gender-Based and Sexual Misconduct Policy.