Sexual Misconduct (including sexual violence)
Policy Statement
Acts of sexual misconduct, including sexual harassment and sexual violence, will not be tolerated at Haverford College. They are anathema to Haverford’s foundational principles that underscore human dignity, promote equality, and repudiate violence in any form. The goals of this policy are to create a community free from sexual misconduct of all kinds, to provide avenues for those affected by sexual misconduct to obtain assistance and to provide a prompt and equitable complaint and investigation procedure. The College is committed to helping students affected by sexual misconduct deal with its impact, and has many resources available to do so. Students subjected to sexual misconduct are encouraged to explore all options available to them—including College judicial processes, civil litigation, or pursuing criminal charges. These options are not mutually exclusive.
Students who believe they have experienced sexual misconduct may choose to contact directly medical, psychological or judicial personnel on or off campus indicated on the Resources and Support page, but if the individual is in physical danger, or has physical injuries which require immediate attention, she/he should call Campus Safety or 911, and a Campus Safety/police officer will respond right away.
Haverford College respects the privacy of students who seek help and/or report incidents of sexual misconduct, but cannot guarantee confidentiality. (Only certain professionals with statutory confidentiality privileges acting within that role [e.g., licensed mental health professionals, medical professionals, and clergy] can guarantee confidentiality). Title IXTitle IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 obligates the College to stop sexual harassment (including sexual violence), remedy its effects, and take steps to prevent its recurrence. As a result, while protecting confidentiality to the greatest extent possible, the College may need to investigate an incident and take action once an allegation is known, whether or not the student wishes to pursue a complaint.