Subject: Eastern Illinois University Discrimination and Sexual Harassment Policies

Please take a few moments to review some information that Eastern Illinois University would like students to know about discrimination, sexual harassment, and sexual violence.

Eastern Illinois University provides equality of opportunity in education and employment for all students and employees.  Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, age, sex, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran's status (as protected by law), or other basis of discrimination precluded by federal and state statutes.

If you believe that you have experienced discrimination by a faculty member, a staff member, another student, or a third party related to one of these factors, you should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator as soon as possible in order that the matter may be promptly addressed.

Office of Civil Rights and Diversity
Old Main, Room 1011
(217) 581-5020
civil@eiu.edu
http://castle.eiu.edu/civil/

Please review the university's Discrimination Complaint Procedures www.eiu.edu/auditing/173 for information about the complaint process and your options as a complainant. No retaliation may be taken against any university student or employee who seeks redress under this policy.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Illinois Human Rights Act prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment. It is the policy of Eastern Illinois University that sexual harassment of one member of the campus community by another will not be tolerated.

What is sexual harassment?
Sexual harassment is unwelcome conduct of a sexual nature, which encompasses a wide range of conduct including sexual violence. A single incident can constitute harassment or it can be a series of unwelcome behaviors. Both female and male students could be subjected to illegal sexual harassment.

Where do I go if I feel I have been sexually harassed?
Any student who believes that he/she is being sexually harassed should report the incident to:

Office of Civil Rights and Diversity
Old Main, Room 1011
(217) 581-5020
civil@eiu.edu
http://castle.eiu.edu/civil/

We encourage you to come forward as soon as possible after you believe that you have experienced sexual harassment. EIU will make every effort to provide assistance to you, will implement interim remedies to address the safety and well-being of both parties prior to the outcome of an investigation, and will investigate complaints in a timely manner. The university will take immediate and corrective actions to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.

The university's Title IX Coordinator is Heather Dragoo and her office is located in 1011 Old Main. Please review the university's Sexual Harassment Policy www.eiu.edu/auditing/175 and Discrimination Complaint Procedures www.eiu.edu/auditing/173 for information about the complaint process and your options as a complainant. No retaliation may be taken against any university employee or student who seeks redress under these policies.

What is sexual violence?
A number of acts fall into the category of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, sexual battery, sexual coercion, and other sexual misconduct including domestic violence, dating violence, and stalking. All such acts fit under the umbrella of sexual harassment, but most (if not all) are also crimes. Students who are victims of any form of sexual violence are strongly encouraged to report these serious crimes to the University Police Department or to the Charleston Police Department.

Where do I go if I wish to file a complaint?
The student complainant controls when and where to file a complaint. (In rare circumstances, the university may be required to proceed with an investigation without the cooperation of the complainant, if failing to do so would put the greater campus community at risk.) For the benefit of students, there are multiple options available to the student and reports may be made in any, all, or none of these departments.

• University Police Department (UPD) – 7th and Grant (directly east of the University Union); (217) 581-3212 (911 if an emergency); department open daily until 4:30 pm; officers are on duty 24 hours. UPD provides professional law enforcement services to the campus community. They can receive, process, and investigate complaints of sexual assault and then forward information to the Coles County State's Attorney for appropriate action if the complainant wishes to pursue a criminal complaint.

• Office of Student Standards – Contact Director Heather Webb, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, (217) 581-3827, hkwebb@eiu.edu, Room 1510 in the MLK Jr University Union. Complaints of sexual misconduct will follow the procedures outlined in the Student Conduct Code http://www.eiu.edu/judicial/studentconductcode.php.

• Office of Civil Rights and Diversity/Title IX Coordinator – Assistant Director/Title IX Coordinator Heather Dragoo, (217) 581-5020, civil@eiu.edu, 1011 Old Main. Complaints of sexual harassment related to sexual violence will follow the Sexual Harassment Policy (Eastern Policy 175) www.eiu.edu/auditing/175 and Discrimination Complaint Procedures (Eastern 173) www.eiu.edu/auditing/173.

We encourage you to come forward as soon as possible. The university will make every effort to provide assistance to you, will implement interim remedies to address the safety and well-being of both parties prior to the outcome of an investigation, and will investigate complaints in a timely manner. We will take immediate and corrective actions to eliminate the harassment, prevent its recurrence, and address its effects.

Students are also encouraged to contact Jackie Hines, Associate Director, Sexual Assault Prevention EIU Counseling Center, (217) 581-3413, jchines2@eiu.edu. Dr. Hines is located in the Human Services Building, and she will discuss options for students and provide support and advocacy. Immediate medical attention is available at Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center, (217) 348-2525, the area's certified sexual assault treatment center.  Counseling services are available to students at the EIU Counseling Center, Human Services Building, (217) 581-3413.

Please review EIU's Sexual Assault, Abuse, and Misconduct Policy www.eiu.edu/auditing/185, the Sexual Assault Protocol www.eiu.edu/mandatedinformation/assault.php, and the Sexual Assault and Interpersonal Violence Resources and Prevention Resources website www.eiu.edu/sexualassaultresources for information about complaint options, processes, and resources.

No retaliation may be taken against any university employee or student who seeks redress under these policies.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX) prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex, including sexual harassment, in education programs and activities. Sexual harassment can take two forms: quid pro quo and hostile environment. The Illinois Human Rights Act prohibits unwelcome advances or conduct of a sexual nature, and requests for sexual favors of students by an executive, faculty member, administrative staff member, or teaching assistant in an institution of higher education when such behavior interferes with the student's performance or creates an intimidating, hostile or offensive environment. You may also contact the Illinois Department of Human Rights; the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; the U.S. Office of Federal Contract Compliance, Department of Labor; and the U.S. Office for Civil Rights, Department of Education.

Thanks,

Heather
M. Heather Dragoo
Assistant Director/Title IX Coordinator
Office of Civil Rights and Diversity
Eastern Illinois University
mhdragoo@eiu.edu
217/581-5020