Title

Education and Outreach

• Notice the situation. Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t assume everything is “just fine.”
• Interpret it as a problem. Does it look like someone needs help? How would you or a friend feel in their place?
• See yourself as part of the solution. To be active is to act.
• Know what to do. Not every situation calls for the same solution. Educate yourself on different solutions to different problems.

• Take action but keep yourself safe. You can’t help if you’re in danger.
• Make others aware of the situation. Having the support of a group will help keep you and the victim safe.
• Ask the person you are worried about if they are okay. Provide support and a listening ear.
• Distract or redirect individuals in unsafe situations. Try to take the perpetrator’s attention away from the victim.
• Mention to others that someone has had too much to drink. Intoxicated or drugged individuals may be more difficult to reason with.
• Ask the victim if they want to leave. If they exit the area, make sure they get home safely.
• Call the police (911) if the situation escalates. Don’t be a hero. Adrenaline won’t protect you from physical harm.

• What are all the options available to you? What can you do to ward off the perpetrator and/or help the victim get away? 
• Who else might be able to assist you in this situation? Do you have friends, family or colleagues nearby? Does anyone else seem uncomfortable with the situation?
• What are the pros and cons of acting? What is the tone of the situation? Is one solution better than another?
• How can you avoid violence in this situation? Can you de-escalate the situation if necessary?

• Have a plan. Talk with your friends about your plan before you go out. Where do you want to go and what do you want to do? Planning ahead helps people look after one another.
• Go out together. Go out as a group and come home as a group. Never leave a friend behind—if you have to split up, split up into groups of two or three.
• Watch out for others. You may be out with your friends, but if you see someone who needs help or seems like they need a support system, invite them to join you.
• Diffuse situations. If you see a friend coming on too strong to someone who may be too drunk to make a consensual decision, interrupt, distract or redirect them. If you are too embarrassed or shy to speak out, get someone else to step in.
• Trust your instincts. If a situation or person doesn’t seem “right” to you, trust your gut. Remove yourself from the situation if/when possible.
• Take care of each other. You aren’t alone, but neither are your friends. Lend one another support.

Adapted from University of New Hampshire’s “Bringing in the Bystander.”

If you find yourself in a situation where you may be the recipient of sexual violence, try to ensure your safety by following these tips:

• Bring someone along. It never hurts to travel with a friend, especially in new or unfamiliar territory.
• Take care of your friends and ask that they do the same. A real friend will challenge you if they feel that you are about to make a mistake—respect them when it happens.
• Don’t put yourself at risk. Take affirmative responsibility for your alcohol intake and/or drug use and acknowledge that alcohol and drugs lower your sexual inhibitions.
• Make your limits known early. Don’t let a partner or potential partner assume that you approve of something.
• Say “No!” If something said or done makes you uncomfortable, say “No!” clearly and firmly. If you are in a public setting, say it loudly so that people around you know your intent.
• Get out of there.
• Find help. Find someone nearby and ask for help. Explain what’s going on. Have them call the police or record the details of the sexual aggressor.

If you find yourself in the position of initiating sexual behavior, you owe it to your partner to respect their needs, wants and interests (including what they don’t need, don’t want and aren’t interested in). These suggestions may help you to reduce your risk for being accused of sexual misconduct:

• Communicate. Make your intentions clear to your sexual partner and give them a chance to clearly relay their intentions to you.
• Respect people’s boundaries. Understand that everyone has personal boundaries and that they have a right to those boundaries.
• Don’t make assumptions about consent. If you are unsure of someone’s sexual availability, whether they are attracted to you, how far you can go with them or whether they are physically and/or mentally able to consent, do not initiate sexual activity with them. If there are any questions or ambiguity, then you do not have consent.
• A lack of “no” doesn’t mean “yes.” Just because someone doesn’t say “no” outright doesn’t mean they’re okay with what’s going on. Mixed messages from a partner are a clear indication that you should stop all sexual activity, take a step back and communicate. Sexual tension aside, you may be misreading them. They may not know how far they want to go with you. You must respect their timeline for sexual behavior. Remember, this timeline can change in either direction.
• If they’re under the influence, they can’t consent. Don’t take advantage of someone’s drunkenness or drugged state, even if they ingested alcohol and/or drugs voluntarily. If they are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs and you are not, they cannot consent. If you are both under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, neither of you can consent. 
• Note the (im)balance of power. You may have physical advantages over your partner because of gender, size and/or strength. Don’t abuse that power—if your partner is intimidated by or fearful of you, they may be unable

• Victims of sexual assault may find themselves in a state of shock. Keep them warm by wrapping them in a blanket or coat.

• Victims of sexual assault are advised to preserve evidence whenever safely possible. In this way, the crime can be more easily proven in a court of law.
• Place clothing worn at the time of an assault in a paper or plastic bag. Bring this clothing to the emergency department as soon as possible.
• If possible, preserve physical evidence of the assault at the location of the assault with items such as towels and sheets.
• Write down identifying facts about the accused and the assault in order to remember important details.
• Victims of sexual assault are advised not to clean up after the incident. In this way, authorities can preserve physical evidence of the crime. Until advised to do so, avoid the following:
  • Washing, bathing or showering
  • Brushing teeth or gargling with mouthwash
  • Removing tampons or pads
  • Urinating or defecating 
  • Washing clothes worn during the assault
  • Eating, drinking or smoking

• Whether a victim decides to call local law enforcement or campus Safety Services, it is extremely important to attend to their emotional needs.
• Talking with a trusted friend or relative or someone who is professionally trained to deal with sexual assault can help an individual come to terms with the incident.
• Professional counseling and support can be beneficial to victims of sexual assault immediately, or months or even years after the incident. Visit the Title IX Resources page for a list of counseling and support services available to the Ashland University community.

• It is important to seek medical attention at the emergency department as soon as possible. A medical examination will ensure appropriate medical treatment as well as enable the collection of physical evidence. A Sexual Assault Forensic Exam (SAFE) will help ensure that physical evidence is preserved in the event that a report is made to city law enforcement. A SAFE can be obtained within 72 hours of an assault.
  • Staff from the local Safe Haven Rape Crisis & Domestic Violence Center or Ashland University Safety Services can accompany victims of sexual assault to the emergency department or a health provider.
  • The victim should bring a change of clothes—if they haven’t already prepared to provide the clothes worn during the assault as evidence, they may do so now.
• The hospital will notify local law enforcement of the arrival of a victim of sexual assault. The victim has no obligation to talk to the police, pursue prosecution of the assailant or provide evidence of the assault.
  • However, allowing law enforcement to collect evidence will help keep options available to the victim and fulfill obligations toward different courses of action. Collecting evidence can assist the authorities in pursuing criminal charges, should the individual decide later to do so.

• Title IX Overview
• Bringing in the Bystander
• One Love Foundation: Movie Screening and Discussion
• Green Dot Community Training
• Domestic Violence in the Workplace

• Culture of Respect
  Students are required to take this training during their online orientation.
• CITE on Blackboard
  Employees are required to take this training.

The following training options are available for public review and use:

• Bricker & Eckler Title IX Training – Level 1 Title IX Basics & Clery Training
  Introductory training by Bricker & Eckler used to cover the basics of Title IX. Satisfies both Title IX regulations training and Clery training requirements.
• Bricker & Eckler Title IX Training – Level 2 Title IX Investigator Training
  Intermediate training by Bricker & Eckler used to educate Title IX Investigators.
• Bricker & Eckler Title IX Training – Level 2 Title IX Advisor Training
  Intermediate training by Bricker & Eckler used to educate Title IX Advisors. Satisfies both Title IX regulations training and annual Clery training requirements.
• Bricker & Eckler Title IX Training – Level 2 Title IX Coordinator Training
  Intermediate training by Bricker & Eckler used to educate Title IX Coordinators.
• ODHE Advanced Title IX Coordinator Training
  Advanced training by Bricker & Eckler used to educate Title IX Coordinators.
• ODHE Advanced Title IX Coordinator Writing Workshop
  Advanced training by Bricker & Eckler used to educate Title IX Coordinators on writing standards and requirements pertaining to Title IX.
• Ashland University Title IX Compliance Officers Training Retreat – Program
  Scheduling, presentation materials and documentation from Ashland University’s Title IX Compliance Officers Training Retreat (Aug 2, 2021).
• Ashland University RA Title IX Training
  Training by Ashland University used to educate resident advisors (RAs) on Title IX processes at Ashland University.