Resources and Support for Students
Haverford’s approach to sexual misconduct is based on the concept of “The Circle,” 
which is a network of offices and individuals to whom a student in need of help may turn, depending in his or her level of comfort. Any office or individual in this network can be turned to initially for support and information; however, at the center of the Circle is Marilou Allen, the Director of the Women’s Center, and student assistants (SAs) who are trained Women’s Center staff. Ms. Allen and the student assistants are extensively trained in responding to victims of sexual misconduct in a variety of ways, which include but are not limited to referrals to other Circle members who may be of help. It is always the victim, however, whose wishes are paramount in accessing other offices both on and off campus.
Reaching Marilou Allen and the Student Assistants: Marilou Allen can be reached at Founders 318, x1183 (mlallen@haverford.edu) weekdays from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Evenings and weekends, the quickest way to reach her is to call Security at x1111.
A student calling Security should tell them that she/he needs to talk with Marilou Allen. The dispatcher will ask, “Can you tell me what it’s about?” The caller is free to say she/he would rather not tell the dispatcher why she/he is calling and the dispatcher will simply take the caller’s number and not ask any further questions. The dispatcher will contact Marilou Allen, and she will return the call.
The SAs can be reached by 24-hour hotline, the cell phone number is 484-571-2775.
When a student contacts Marilou Allen or an SA, she will:
- explain the options available on and off campus to deal with the sexual assault.
- help survivors decide what steps they want to take, coordinate the help they seek, and support them throughout the process.
- go with survivors to Health Services, the hospital, Psychological Services, Security, or the police.
The SAs are required to inform Marilou Allen, who in turn is required to report to the Dean of the College and the Director of Security that an incident has occurred. During the report none of the specific or identifying facts are disclosed. The anonymous report of a rape or sexual assault will be included in the Annual Crime Statistics which Security compiles, in compliance with federal law (the Clery Act ). Copies of this annual report can be obtained from the Security Office.
Victims and friends of victims should bear in mind that complete confidentiality cannot be guaranteed, as described above, unless the report is made in the context of a client-counselor relationship with a licensed psychologist. Title IX requires Haverford to investigate to the best of its ability any other claim of sexual assault, even if the victim wishes the matter to remain private, and even if there is minimal information initially available. Every effort will be made, however, to insure the privacy of the victim, and the College takes the Title IX requirement to prevent the victim from retaliation very seriously. If you have questions about Haverford’s obligations under Title IX as well as the steps that can be taken to maximize privacy and protection, please see the Title IX Coordinator, Associate Dean of the College Steve Watter.
Medical Care
It is strongly encouraged that all survivors of sexual assault receive some type of medical care in order to check for internal injury, pregnancy and STIs. Medical evidence can only be collected at a hospital is of crucial value if an assault victim decides to prosecute in the criminal justice system. That evidence should be collected as close to the assault as possible, usually within 24-72 hours. She/he should not shower, bathe, brush teeth, douche, or change her/his clothes and should bring a complete change of clothes to the hospital, because the hospital may need to keep the clothes she/he was wearing for evidence.
Health Services Staff, Marilou Allen and SAs are available to accompany survivors seeking medical help. They can also contact a volunteer Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) counselor, who will meet the survivor and college support staff at the hospital. WOAR, which provides counseling and advocacy free of charge, may be called directly at 610-566-4342. Victims Services of Montgomery County, Norristown, Pa will also send counselors to hospital to assist the victim, they can be called directly at 610-277-0932.
Haverford College Health Services
Haverford Health Services (x1089) has walk-in hours Monday-Thursday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. A student who has been sexually assaulted should contact Nurse Practitioner Wendy Mahoney or Medical Director Catherine Sharbaugh either through Security or at the Health Services during working hours. After hours call security 610-896-1111 and ask for the on-call nurse. The dispatcher will contact the on-call nurse, who will return the call.
Health Services is able to provide primary medical care and referrals after an assault, but NOT a rape exam. The examination is NOT admissible in court as evidence.
Health Services can:
- check for external and internal injuries
- offer information about hospital and clinics which provide free, anonymous HIV tests
- provide STI tests and treatment
- test for pregnancy and provide the morning-after-pill.
Bryn Mawr Hospital
Bryn Mawr Hospital Emergency Room, located at the corner of Bryn Mawr Avenue and County Line Road in Bryn Mawr (484-337-3000, 24 hours), provides medical examinations called the “Rape Kit” which can serve as evidence for criminal prosecution. The use of the rape kit procedure does not commit a victim of sexual assault to prosecute. However, it is the only legally approved means of collection and preservation of evidence, should a survivor decide to prosecute at any later point.
The hospital is required by law to notify the police that a sexual assault occurred, and the police will then come to the hospital. The victim of sexual assault is not required to talk with the police or to make a police report in order to receive medical treatment. If she/he consents to talk with the police; she/he is not committing her/himself to prosecution.
The Emergency Room physician will ask for permission to contact the College medical staff to coordinate follow-up care. A student may decline permission. If she/he gives permission, all information will be held in confidence by Health Services staff, as noted above.
The hospital is also able to provide testing and treatment for pregnancy and STIs, including confidential (but not anonymous) HIV testing, and to make additional medical or psychological referrals to on or off-campus personnel.
Counseling & Psychological Services
Survivors are strongly encouraged to seek help in coping with the psychological effects of a sexual assault. Experienced counselors can work confidentially with a survivor to help her/him recover from the trauma and regain control over her/his life.
Marilou Allen and SAs are available to accompany survivors seeking psychological help; however, student can also call the Counseling and Psychological Services Center (CAPS) directly. Rick Webb, the Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, and David Bushnell, Rebecca Ergas, Cynthia Guinyard and Jane Widseth, staff psychologists, are available 24 hours a day to talk with a student who has been sexually assaulted. They can be reached at CAPS, Founders 317, x1290, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. weekdays. Evenings and weekends, students may either consult the Staff Directory for home numbers of counselors or call Security and say they need to speak to a counselor. The dispatcher will contact a counselor, who will call back.
They can also provide names of counselors in private practice and at local agencies (including WOAR). All conversations at Counseling and Psych. Services remain private, except in instances in which there is immediate and serious concern about a student’s safety or if a student requests that information be released.
Haverford College Safety & Security
A sexual assault may be reported to Safety & Security 24 hours a day, 7 days week. The student (or visitor) may ask the dispatcher to be able to speak with Nora Nelle, Associate Director of Security, who is specially trained in this area. The dispatcher will then contact Nora, who will return the call.
Security can transport a survivor to the Health Services, Bryn Mawr Hospital, or the police station. Nora Nelle can inform survivors about options through the police and criminal justice system. They can arrange for police to meet with a survivor in the Security Office or can accompany a student if she/he decides to talk with the police at the police station.
Security is required to inform the Dean of the College that a sexual assault has occurred, and with the survivor’s permission, they will also inform the police. An anonymous report of a sexual assault to Security will be included in the annual crime statistics compiled by Security by federal law.
Haverford College Security follows regulations of the Department of Education on the Federal Campus Security Act with regard to timely reporting of campus crimes, including rape or sexual assault. The Department of Education has determined that reporting should be decided on a case-by-case basis in light of the nature of the crime, the continuing danger to the campus community, and the possible risk of compromising law enforcement efforts. In making a decision to alert the community that a sexual assault has occurred, Security and the Deans Office will make every effort to protect the anonymity of the survivor. The Dean of the College has the authority to suspend an alleged assaulter pending an investigation, and to take whatever measures are necessary to protect the victim from contact with the accused once the allegation has been made.
Lower Merion & Haverford Township Police
- The police can be called through their emergency line, 911, or if it is not an emergency through the correct police jurisdiction: Lower Merion, 71 E. Lancaster Ave, Ardmore, 610-642-4200 or Haverford Township, Darby and Manoa Roads, Havertown, 610-853-2400. A survivor should inform the police that she/he wants to report a rape/sexual assault, and the police will take a report.
- The police can provide transportation to Bryn Mawr Hospital or direct emergency medical care.
- They will take a police report of the rape or sexual assault, which leaves open the option of criminal prosecution, although filing a report in no way commits a survivor to prosecution. Although the police and district attorney encourage survivors to file a report immediately after a rape or sexual assault, it is possible to file a report at a later point in time.
Judicial Options
Marilou Allen and SAs are available to advise survivors seeking help through the college judicial process or criminal justice system. In addition, victims can contact their dean or any other member of the Circle to discuss options both on and off campus. They can also contact a WOAR counselor trained to support survivors in the criminal justice system, or consult with a lawyer regarding the possibility of civil proceedings.
Haverford College Internal Judicial Procedures
- In the case of violence or sexual misconduct, where there is a concern for the safety of the community, the Dean of the College may separate an accused student immediately pending an investigation. When an allegation of sexual misconduct is made, a prompt investigation will be conducted and the findings presented to the Dean or Senior Associate Dean of the College, who will determine if there is enough evidence to support a suspicion of violation. If this is the case, a Dean’s Panel will be appointed. For Dean’s Panel guidelines and procedures, see the web page of the Office of the Dean of the College.
- In cases of sexual misconduct, if a violation is found to have occurred, the Dean’s Panel will consider sanctions that may include separation from the College, depending on the severity of the incident and taking into account any previous disciplinary infractions. The Panel decision can be appealed to the President of the College, who has complete discretion in the application of sanctions, which can be more severe than those originally imposed by the Panel.