Rape & Sexual Assault Reporting

Rape

Berea College will not tolerate rape, date rape, or other forms of sexual assault. In instances where the perpetrator of such a crime is a Berea College student, the College will take disciplinary action which may include suspension or expulsion. Rape or attempted rape violates the laws of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as well as Berea College Student Conduct Regulations. In addition to potential criminal prosecution, such a charge will be heard under provisions of the Community Judicial Code as set forth in the Handbook for Students.

The institution will change the victim’s academic and living situations if changes are requested and are reasonably available. In campus disciplinary procedures involving an alleged sex offense, the accuser and accused are entitled to the same opportunities to have others present during a disciplinary proceeding. Both the accuser and the accused shall be informed of the outcome of any institutional disciplinary proceeding brought alleging a sex offense.

Students often fear the consequences of reporting a sexual assault if they were in a questionable place or consuming alcohol at the time of the incident. Such concerns should never outweigh one’s right to report a rape and have the rapist dealt with. While no student is given total immunity from campus disciplinary action regarding violations of the Conduct Code, a hearing on charges of rape or assault will focus on that charge rather than other behaviors.

If you wish to bring charges under the College’s judicial system or simply make a formal report without filing charges, you should contact Public Safety or Student Life.

Professional counselors and clergy provide the number of confidential reports taken in each crime category for annual inclusion in the Campus Crime Statistical Report. Persons taking confidential reports are urged to request victims report incidents to Public Safety or the local police department whenever a crime has taken place.

Sexual Assault

Sexual Assault is a broad category of actions in which sexual acts and/or sexual harrassment is performed without consent or upon a person who is not able to give consent (e.g. in the case where one is intoxicated and unable to effectively give consent). Berea College recognizes that sexual assault is not gender specific as both men and women can be a victim or perpetrator of sexual assault. Sexual assault is unwanted sexual contact where a person’s consent has not been given. It need not, but may, include penetration. It may also include unwanted kissing, touching, or fondling, touching intimate parts of the body or even the clothing covering intimate body parts. Information on what constitutes consent and rights of the victim can be found in the Student Handbook.

Reporting Rape and Sexual Assault

If you have been sexually assaulted:

• Get to a safe place
• Get medical and counseling assistance at once. Don’t live with the fear of sexually transmitted disease, AIDS, or an unwanted pregnancy.
• Do NOT shower, wash, douche, or change your clothes even though that’s your immediate desire. If you decide to press charges, physical evidence is of the utmost importance.
• Tell someone. Reporting a sexual assault and pressing charges are separate processes. Reporting does not mean you must take it any further. Even if you don’t want something done, do tell someone. If you choose to file charges, various persons, both on and off campus, are available to help you do so.

To report a rape or get in touch with a rape crisis counselor, contact:

• Madison County Rape Crisis Hotline at 859-625-0213
• Lexington Rape Crisis Center (24 hours) at 859-253-2511
• A Berea College physician at 3212
• An on-call physician (available 24 hours a day through St. Joseph Berea Hospital) at 859-986-3151
• A Berea College Mental Health Professional at 3212
• Berea College Public Safety (24 hours) at 3333
• Berea City Police at 859-624-4774
• Student Life at 3155
• To be placed in contact with the Student Life staff person on duty, available 24 hours a day at 3333
• Your Residence Hall Collegium member
• A campus minister

Information on Sex Offenders in the area can be located either by name, city, county or zip code on the Kentucky Sex Offender Registry.