Sexual Assault Reporting

Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs or activities operated by recipients of Federal financial assistance.  

Sexual violence is a form of sex-based discrimination and violates an individual’s fundamental rights and personal dignity and is therefore a violation of Title IX. The Cleveland Institute of Art regards sex-based discrimination in all its forms to be a serious offense if practiced by students, faculty, or staff. The College does not discriminate on the basis of gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation in its educational programs or in any other activities sponsored by the College, as required by Title IX of the Education Act Amendments of 1972 and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968. Through its policies on sex-based discrimination, the College supports everyone: male, female, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, and questioning individuals. This nondiscrimination policy extends to all applicants for admission to the College, as well as all students who are full- or part-time, matriculated for a degree or not, and visitors to any of our education programs or activities.

Definitions 

Sexual violence refers to physical sexual acts perpetrated against a person’s will or where a person is incapable of giving consent due to the age of the person who has experienced sexual violence, use of drugs/alcohol, or the presence of a mental or developmental disability.  Sexual violence includes rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, and sexual coercion.

Sexual harassment, which includes acts of sexual violence, is also a form of prohibited sex discrimination under Title IX as addressed in the Title IX Policy in the Student Handbook.

Sex-based discrimination, which may include acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on sex or sex-stereotyping, even if those acts do not involve conduct of a sexual nature, is also prohibited and addressed in the Title IX Policy in the Student Handbook.

Consent is a critical factor in sexual assault. Consent must be given through a clearly expressed and mutually understood agreement for specific sexual behavior. The responsibility for obtaining consent lies with the person initiating the sexual act. Consensual sex is only possible when both parties are able to give consent. A person who is under age 16, or is incapacitated by drugs and/or alcohol, or is unconscious, asleep, or mentally impaired CANNOT give consent. The threat of, or use of violence, force, intimidation, or other coercion negates any previous consent or subsequent assumptions of consent. “No” means no.

Reporting 

The College strongly encourages persons who experience sexual violence to immediately report this, seek assistance, and pursue College action for their own protection and that of the entire CIA community. In addition, any members of the CIA community who witness or learn of alleged sexual violence from the person who experienced same, or through another party, have the obligation to report this to a Title IX Coordinator (contact information below and on the right side of this page.)

Charise Reid, Vice President of Human Resources and Inclusion and Title IX Administrator Contact: clreid@cia.edu or 216-421-7312 

Lisa Schumann, Associate Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator for Faculty and Staff Contact: lschumann@cia.edu or 216-421-7405 

Jesse Grant, Dean of Student Affairs and Title IX Coordinator for Students Contact: jlgrant@cia.edu or 216-421-7427  

You may also contact the Office for Civil Rights, US Department of Education, 1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 325, Cleveland, OH 44115, 216.522.4970, or OCR.Cleveland@ed.gov.

FAQs 

What should a person who has experienced sexual violence do first? 

• Get to a safe place.
• Tell a trusted person about the incident.
• Call 911 or University Circle Police (216.791.1234) or Case Police (216.368.3333) and/or go directly to the emergency room at any local hospital for medical attention. The closest hospital to CIA’s facilities is:
             University Hospitals, 11100 Euclid Avenue, 216.844.3722.
• It is important that the physical evidence of the violence be preserved. Do not wash hands, shower or douche, urinate, consume liquids or food, brush hair or teeth, or change clothes immediately following the incident.
• The person who has experienced sexual violence can request an advocate or other support person during an examination at a hospital. An advocate is available from the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center (216.619.6192).
• The person who has experienced sexual violence is not obligated to talk to the police, but the police will be called to the emergency room.
• Making sure evidence is collected does not obligate the person who has experienced sexual violence to pursue any action, but does leave all options open.
• Hospitals are required to report felony crimes (rape is a felony crime) but if the person who has experienced sexual violence is over 18, his/her name does not have to be disclosed. 

Who  can receive a report of sexual violence? 

Any member of the CIA community can receive a report or make a report, but notifying a Title IX Coordinator puts the College “on notice” and obligates the College to respond to a report of sexual violence.

Is the report confidential? 

The Title IX Coordinator who receives the report will make every effort to keep the report confidential to the extent possible and consistent with legal requirements and/or the requirement to investigate allegations in accordance with the Title IX Sexual Harassment Grievance Process. The reporter may request that a report be kept confidential, and the College will consider such requests. Students should be aware, however, that honoring such requests may limit the College's ability to fully investigate and respond to the report. The College will maintain reports in a secure manner.

Will parents/guardians be notified? 

In some instances when there is a health or safety concern involving a student, the College may need to notify the parent or guardian. In making this decision, the desire of the complainant will be considered along with the need to protect his/her safety and that of the campus community. If the person who experienced sexual violence is under the age of 18, or under 21 and physically or mentally impaired, the Title IX Coordinator may be required to report the assault to the appropriate social service agency or the police.

Can a report of sexual violence be made to someone who is not required to take action as a result of the report? 

Yes, a conversation without the requirement of follow-up action can be had with a “Confidential Reporting Officer.” Confidential Reporting Officers provide advice, support, and guidance about how to manage the situation without instituting an investigative action. These resources are not required to report allegations of sexual misconduct unless the reporter is in imminent danger. The report to this person remains confidential. Confidential Reporting Officers are licensed professionals and include:

• Mental health counselors, social workers, and medical professionals (doctors, nurses, and others with state licenses) who can be found at counseling centers, health centers, health care or social service agencies, hospitals, and clinics.
• CWRU Health Services, 2145 Adelbert Rd., 216.368.2450 (24/7)
• CWRU Counseling Services, Sears 220 on the CWRU campus, 216.368.5872 (24/7)
• CWRU Flora Stone Mather Center for Women (and men), Tinkham Veale University Center, Suite 248 on CWRU Campus (11038 Bellflower Road), 216-368-0985 M-F 8:30-5:00 and ask for the Licensed Professional Health Advocate
• Cleveland Rape Crisis Center, 216.619.6192 (24/7)
• The Domestic Violence Center (216.391.4357 (HELP) (24/7))

Can a report of sexual violence be given anonymously?