Crisis Assistance Response and Education
(C.A.R.E) and Victim Assistance
C.A.R.E.
Office
67 George Street
2nd Floor, Rooms 202 and 203
Phone: (843) 953-3390
Fax: (843) 953-2273
Email: CareVictimAssistance@cofc.edu
Appointments
Call 953-3390
Walk-in 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Emergency Team Response
Pager: (843) 724-3600
Sexual Misconduct Policy
The core values that define the character of the College of Charleston community exclude behavior that in any way violates the rights or diminishes the dignity of any person. Sexual misconduct can, therefore, never be tolerated. The information provided below offers clarity in defining “sexual misconduct” and provides an outline for initiating a campus judicial process for an allegation involving another student. Sexual misconduct, defined as any non-consensual conduct of a sexual nature, encompasses a broad range of behavior from inappropriate touching to sexual assault and includes, but is not limited to:
Non-consensual Sexual Intercourse - vaginal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger; anal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger; and oral copulation (mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact).
Non-consensual Sexual Touching - touching of intimate body parts such as genitalia, groin, breast, buttocks, or any clothing covering them, touching a person with one’s own intimate body parts, or compelling another to touch one’s intimate body parts.
Sexual Exploitation - non-consensual sexual advantage of another for one’s personal or third-party benefit that does not otherwise constitute rape or sexual assault. Examples of sexual exploitation include, but are not limited to such acts as:
- inducing incapacitation with the intent to rape or sexual assault another student;
- non-consensual video or audio taping of sexual activity;
- allowing others to observe a personal act of consensual sex without knowledge or consent of the partner;
- voyeurism (Peeping Tom activity)
- knowingly transmitting an STD or HIV to another student;
- prostituting another student (monetary gain, privilege or power from the sexual activities of another student)
Non-consensual – the absence of explicit verbal consent or overt action clearly expressing consent. Such signals of consent must be mutual and ongoing. Consent obtained through fraud or force, whether that force is physical or through threats, intimidation or coercion is not regarded as legitimate consent.
It is the responsibility of the initiator (the person who wants to engage in the specific sexual activity) to make sure that they have consent from their partner. Use of alcohol or drugs shall not diminish one’s responsibility to obtain consent. Incapacitation - constitutes a lack of consent. Examples of incapacitation include, but are not limited to, the following: use of force, threat of force, fear, a person who is intoxicated, passed out, asleep, or for any other reason physically unable to communicate unwillingness.
Initiating Judicial Action - While it is the choice of a student to determine whether he/she will initiate judicial action through the Dean of Students for a violation, we strongly encourage a student to do so. Contact the Dean of Students, Office of Student Affairs, 3rd Floor Stern Student Center, or call 953-5522 for more information.