In cases where a report is made about an incident involving a complainant who is hesitant to come forward, the Title IX Coordinator or designee may seek additional information to ensure campus safety, even if information identifying either complainant or respondent is withheld in the initial report. The Coordinator will conduct an initial inquiry, looking for any sign of pattern, predation, violence, or threat. When such exists, institutional action may be required to secure campus safety. As such, no employee should ever promise absolute confidentiality except non-mandatory reporters (campus counselors, campus health professionals, and the Associate Dean of Students for Inter-Religious Life). Reports may be private, but not confidential.
The University will not pursue disciplinary action for improper use of alcohol or other drugs against a complainant of sexual misconduct or against another student who shares information as either a witness to or as a reporter of sexual misconduct as long as the report is made in good faith.
Deliberately false and/or malicious accusations of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation, (as opposed to complaints, which, even if erroneous, are made in good faith) are just as serious an offense as discrimination, harassment, or retaliation and will be subject to appropriate disciplinary action.
The University will not require a party to abide by a nondisclosure agreement, in writing or otherwise, that would prevent the disclosing of information related to the outcome of the proceeding.
The University must comply with the obligations of the Clery Act when completing reporting and disclosure documents. However, the University will protect the confidentiality of victims and other necessary parties when complying with these requirements. If necessary, the University’s Office of the General Counsel will redact personally identifiable information, as defined by the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, when maintaining publicly available or reported records.