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Campus Security
Sexual Assault Policy - Main Campus
SMU
is a community of trust whose very existence depends on adherence
to standards of conduct. Student conduct that violates these standards
is handled through the University Student Judiciary. Cases of
alleged student misconduct involving serious physical or psychological
harm are referred to the SMU Student Judiciary Serious Offense
Judicial Board. This includes cases involving sexual misconduct
and/or sexual assault or attempted sexual assault. (What follows
is a summary of SMU's policies and procedures on sexual misconduct
and sexual assault. Please consult the University Judicial Code
section for these policies and procedures in their entirety.)
What
Constitutes Sexual Assault?
Sexual assault offenses include the actual
or attempted intentional touching of an non-consenting person's
intimate parts (defined as genitalia, groin, breast, the buttocks,
or clothing covering them) or forcing an non-consenting person to
touch another's intimate parts; rape; forcible sodomy; forcible
oral copulation; and forcible sexual penetration, however slight,
of another's anal or genital opening with any object. These acts
may be committed by a stranger or by acquaintance and must be
committed either by force, threat, or intimidation, or otherwise
without consent.
Educational
Programs that Promote Awareness
The Coordinator of Psychological Services
for Women will conduct educational programs on sexual assault
for students through the Wellness Program, the Orientation Week
Program, the Extended Orientation Program (EOP) in the residence
halls, and seminars for specific groups as requested. In addition,
confidential, ongoing counseling for student survivors of sexual
assault is available with the Coordinator of Psychological Services
for Women and can be arranged through the Counseling and Testing
Center. Confidential, ongoing counseling for faculty and staff
survivors of sexual assault is available through the Counseling
and Testing Center on a fee basis.
Women's Center: The Women's Center of Southern Methodist University empowers women and men on campus through educational programming and leadership opportunities designed to increase awareness of gender equity issues. Through advocacy, information, and referral services, the Women's Center provides a safe haven for students struggling with issues of injustice and oppression. The Women's Center annually sponsors a Women's Symposium. The Center also unites with other community and campus partners on violence prevention, which includes sexual assault.
The Women's Center
is located at 3116 Fondren Drive (@ the intersection of Airline & Fondren).
Hours are from 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Extended hours and weekends are available by reservation only.
Call 214-768-4792 or fax 214-768-3475 to schedule.
What to do if you have been sexually assaulted
Students, faculty, and staff are strongly encouraged to report sexual assaults to SMU Police, whether the assault occurs on or off campus, no matter who the alleged assailant is. Students may report sexual assaults to SMU Police Department or the Dean of Student Life Office. Reporting a sexual assault to University officials or filing a police report does not automatically initiate criminal charges. It is important for persons who have been sexually assaulted to seek medical attention. The Coordinator of Psychological Services for Women is available to accompany students who have been sexually assaulted to the hospital and for counseling, if desired. A medical examination called a "Rape Kit Exam," conducted by an area hospital, will help preserve important evidence of the sexual assault if the person who has been sexually assaulted decides later to prosecute.
Remember-If you have been sexually assaulted:
- Call 911 on campus/from a cell phone or off campus phone line call 214-768-3388.
- DO NOT shower, bathe, or douche.
- Have a trusted friend take you to Parkland Hospital. It is the only hospital in Dallas county that performs rape kit examinations. Take the clothes in which you were assaulted with you to the hospital. If reported to the SMU Police, clothing and other items will be provided to you at the hospital.
- Call the Coordinator of Psychological Services for Women at 214-768-4795. She will meet you at Parkland Hospital.
- Obtain counseling services through the SMU Counseling and Testing Center at 214-768-2211 or call 214-768-4796 for a community referral.
- Remember it is not your fault. You will recover.
(Some information obtained from the Women's Center website.)
How to file a Sexual Assault Complaint
Persons with complaints of sexual misconduct and/or sexual assault allegedly committed by students, whether occurring on or off campus, should report such complaints to the Office of the Dean of Student Life. If the complainant wishes to proceed with formal charges through the SMU Judiciary, an investigation is conducted, and the case is referred to the SMU Serious Offense Judicial Board, a group specially trained to hear serious offense cases. This board is composed of six members (three students, one faculty member, one staff member, and one nonvoting SMU Law School faculty member, who serves as chair). A hearing is held following the procedures outlined in The University Judicial Code, Section V, Serious Offenses - Student Judicial Procedures. Such procedures include opportunities for both the complainant and the accused: to attend the hearing and present evidence on their own behalf; to challenge any member of the Serious Offense Judicial Board on grounds of prejudice; to have their parents and one support person for the SMU community attend; to present either in writing or in person the testimony of witnesses; to cross-examine witnesses; to request to have her/his living arrangements (if living in campus housing) modified pending the outcome of the student judicial proceedings if the accused is living near the complainant; and not to have his or her sexual history discussed during the hearing. However, evidence of a recent sexual relationship between the accused and the complainant may be considered if the accused asserts consent as a defense. In addition, the accused has the right to appeal the decision of the Serious Offense Judicial Board to the University Judicial Council. Students found responsible for sexual misconduct or sexual assault face sanctions imposed by the student judiciary ranging from judicial reprimand to expulsion.
Filing formal charges through the SMU student judiciary does not preclude filing criminal and/or civil charges. Students who wish to file criminal and/or civil charges may receive information and assistance from the Office of the Dean of Student Life and SMU Police .
