Title IX
Title IX is committed to the holistic growth of student development by providing wrap around services that are centered in equity and access of student needs. Our office aims to support students through programs and resources that help each student achieve their educational goals
Report an Incident to Coastline
Title IX Information
Coastline College is committed to equal opportunity in educational programs, employment, and access to institutional programs and activities.
Students, staff, administrators, and faculty are entitled to an educational and working environment free from gender or sex-based discrimination and harassment. Sexual Harassment, including Sexual Assault, Dating Violence, Domestic Violence, and Stalking, is unlawful sex discrimination.
In response to recent decisions made by the California Court of Appeals and U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights, the District hereby implements the following interim Title IX procedure to address alleged violations of Sexual Harassment by Students pending changes to District BP/AP 5910.
Prohibited Conduct
The District prohibits:
- Gender-based (or sex-based) Discrimination or Harassment, including Sexual Harassment
- Retaliation for filing a complaint, reporting misconduct, or for participating in any related investigation or proceeding
- Dating and Domestic Violence, and Stalking
- Sexual Assault
Coast Community College District
CCCD Nondiscrimination Policy: Title IX & Sexual Misconduct
As many of you may know, the State of California passed a law (Senate Bill 967), affectionately known as the Yes Means Yes law, requiring both parties who are engaging in sexual activity to give on-going consent.
U.S. Department of Education
Pregnant or Parenting? Title IX Protects You From Discrimination At School
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Sexual Harassment
Acts of Sexual Harassment may be committed by any person upon any other person, regardless of the sex, sexual orientation, and/or gender identity of those involved. Sexual Harassment, as an umbrella category, includes offenses of Sexual Harassment, Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence, Dating Violence, and Stalking, and is defined as:
- Quid Pro Quo, criteria must include:
- A District employee,
- Conditions the provision of an aid, benefit, or service of the District,
- On an individual's participation in unwelcome sexual conduct; and/or
- Hostile Environment, criteria must include:
- Unwelcome conduct,
- Determined by a reasonable person,
- To be so severe, and
- Pervasive, and
- Objectively offensive,
- That it effectively denies a person equal access to the District's education program or activity.
Overview of Expectations with Respect to Consensual Relationships
There are inherent risks in any romantic or sexual relationship between individuals in unequal positions (such as teacher and student, supervisor and employee). These relationships may be less consensual than perceived by the individual whose position confers power. The relationship also may be viewed in different ways by each of the parties, particularly in retrospect. Furthermore, circumstances may change, and conduct that was previously welcome may become unwelcome. Even when both parties have consented at the outset to a romantic or sexual involvement, this past consent may not remove grounds for a later charge of a violation of applicable sections of the faculty/staff handbooks. The college does not wish to interfere with private choices regarding personal relationships when these relationships do not interfere with the college's goals or district policies. For the personal protection of members of this community, relationships in which power differentials are inherent (faculty-student, staff-student, administrator-student) are generally discouraged. Consensual romantic or sexual relationships in which one party maintains a direct supervisory or evaluative role over the other party is in violation of district policy (CCCD BP 7310). This includes student assistants over whom they have direct responsibility.
Non-consensual Sexual Contact
- Non-Consensual Sexual Contact is any intentional sexual touching, however slight, with any object, by a man or a woman upon a man or a woman that is without consent and/or by force.
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The determination of whether an environment is "hostile" must be based on all of the circumstances. These circumstances could include:
- the frequency of the conduct;
- the nature and severity of the conduct;
- whether the conduct was physically threatening;
- whether the conduct was humiliating;
- the effect of the conduct on the alleged victim's mental or emotional state;
- whether the conduct was directed at more than one person;
- whether the conduct arose in the context of other discriminatory conduct;
- whether the conduct unreasonably interfered with the alleged victim's educational or work performance;
- whether the statement is a mere utterance of an epithet which engenders offense in an employee or student or offends by mere discourtesy or rudeness
- whether the speech or conduct deserves the protections of academic freedom or the 1st Amendment.
Sexual Contact includes:
Intentional contact with the breasts, buttock, groin, or genitals, or touching another with any of these body parts, or making another touch you or themselves with or on any of these body parts; any intentional bodily contact in a sexual manner, though not involving contact with/of/by breasts, buttocks, groin, genitals, mouth or other orifice.
Non-consensual Sexual Intercourse
Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse is any sexual intercourse however slight, with any object, by a man or woman upon a man or a woman that is without consent and/or by force. Intercourse includes vaginal penetration by a penis, object, tongue or finger, anal penetration by a penis, object, tongue, or finger, and oral copulation (mouth to genital contact or genital to mouth contact), no matter how slight the penetration or contact.
Sexual Exploitation
Occurs when a student takes non-consensual or abusive sexual advantage of another for his/her own advantage or benefit, or to benefit or advantage anyone other than the one being exploited, and that behavior does not otherwise constitute one of the other sexual misconduct offenses. Examples of sexual exploitation include, but are not limited to:
- Invasion of sexual privacy;
- prostituting another student;
- non-consensual video or audio-taping of sexual activity;
- going beyond the boundaries of consent (such as letting your friends hide in the closet to watch you having consensual sex);
- engaging in voyeurism;
- knowingly transmitting an STI or HIV to another student;
- Exposing one's genitals in non-consensual circumstances; inducing another to expose their genitals;
- Sexually-based stalking and/or bullying may also be forms of sexual exploitation
Additional Applicable Definitions
Consent is clear, knowing and voluntary. Consent is active, not passive. Silence, in and of itself, cannot be interpreted as consent. Consent can be given by words or actions, as long as those words or actions create mutually understandable clear permission regarding willingness to engage in (and the conditions of) sexual activity.
- Consent to any one form of sexual activity cannot automatically imply consent to any other forms of sexual activity.
- Previous relationships or prior consent cannot imply consent to future sexual acts.
Force is the use of physical violence and/or imposing on someone physically to gain sexual access. Force also includes threats, intimidation (implied threats) and coercion that overcome resistance or produce consent ("Have sex with me or I'll hit you. Okay, don't hit me. I'll do what you want.").
Coercion is unreasonable pressure for sexual activity. Coercive behavior differs from seductive behavior based on the type of pressure someone uses to get consent from another. When someone makes clear to you that they do not want sex, that they want to stop, or that they do not want to go past a certain point of sexual interaction, continued pressure beyond that point can be coercive.
- Cases will be investigated regardless of whether the accuser resisted the sexual advance or request, but resistance is a clear demonstration of non-consent. The presence of force is not demonstrated by the absence of resistance. Sexual activity that is forced is by definition non-consensual, but non-consensual sexual activity is not by definition forced.
- In order to give effective consent, one must be of legal age (18 years or older).
- Sexual activity with someone who one should know to be - or based on the circumstances should reasonably have known to be - mentally or physically incapacitated (by alcohol or other drug use, unconsciousness or blackout), constitutes a violation.
Incapacitation is a state where someone cannot make rational, reasonable decisions because they lack the capacity to give knowing consent (e.g., to understand the "who, what, when, where, why or how" of their sexual interaction).
District policy also covers a person whose incapacity results from mental disability, sleep, involuntary physical restraint, or from the taking of rape drugs. Possession, use and/or distribution of any of these substances, including but not limited to Rohypnol, Ketamine, GHB, Burundanga, etc. is prohibited, and administering one of these drugs to another student is a violation. More information on these drugs can be found at 911 Rape Information.
Use of alcohol or other drugs will never function as a defense to a violation of district policy.
The sexual orientation and/or gender identity of individuals engaging in sexual activity is not relevant to allegations. For reference to the pertinent state statutes on sex offenses, please see CA Penal Code Section 261-269.
Sanction Statement
Any student found responsible for violating the CCCD policy on Non-Consensual or Forced Sexual Contact (where no intercourse has occurred) will likely receive a sanction ranging from probation to expulsion, depending on the severity of the incident, and taking into account any previous campus conduct code violations.
Any student found responsible for violating the CCCD policy on Non-Consensual or Forced Sexual Intercourse will likely face a recommended sanction of suspension or expulsion.
Any student found responsible for violating the CCCD policy on sexual exploitation or sexual harassment will likely receive a recommended sanction ranging from warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the incident, and taking into account any previous campus conduct code violations.
The Title IX investigative team reserves the right to broaden or lessen any range of recommended sanctions in the case of serious mitigating circumstances or egregiously offensive behavior. Neither the initial hearing officers nor any appeals body or officer will deviate from the range of recommended sanctions unless compelling justification exists to do so.
Other Misconduct Offenses (Will Fall Under Title IX When Gender-Based)
- Threatening or causing physical harm, extreme verbal abuse, or other conduct which threatens or endangers the health or safety of any person;
- Discrimination, defined as actions that deprive other members of the community of educational or employment access, benefits or opportunities on the basis of gender;
- Intimidation, defined as implied threats or acts that cause an unreasonable fear of harm in another;
- Hazing, defined as acts likely to cause physical or psychological harm or social ostracism to any person within the college community, when related to the admission, initiation, pledging, joining, or any other group-affiliation activity (as defined further in the Student Code of Conduct);
- Bullying, defined as repeated and/or severe aggressive behavior likely to intimidate or intentionally hurt, control or diminish another person, physically or mentally (that is not speech or conduct otherwise protected by the 1st Amendment).
- Violence between those in an intimate relationship to each other;
- Stalking, defined as repetitive and/or menacing pursuit, following, harassment and/or interference with the peace and/or safety of a member of the community; or the safety of any of the immediate family of members of the community.
- Quid Pro Quo, criteria must include:
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Privacy and Reporting
To Report Gender-Based Discrimination, sexual harassment, non-consensual sexual contact, non-consensual sexual intercourse, or sexual exploitation, please contact Coastline College's designated Title IX Officer:
- Leighia Fleming
- TitleIX@coastline.edu
- 714-241-6130
You may also file a Student Sexual Misconduct (Title IX) Incident Report
The Title IX Officer is responsible for the purposes of initiating notice and/or investigation of sexual misconduct excluding cases involving personnel (not related to a student). The Title IX Officer will assign deputy investigators, who are members of the Investigative Team, to investigate allegations of gender-based discrimination and/or sexual misconduct. The deputy investigators will use discretion on how they act in response to a notice of gender-based discrimination. Understanding that different people on campus have different reporting responsibilities and varied abilities to maintain confidentiality, the Title IX Officer will assign deputy investigators depending on the situation and the parties involved.
To Report Confidentially
If you want the details of the incident to be kept confidential, or you are hesitant to make a formal report, you should speak with mental health counselors or rape crisis resources who can maintain confidentiality.
On Campus Resources
Mental Health Counselors are available to victims and accused students. For more information, visit the Student Mental Health Services webpage.
- Mental Health Counselors
- (714) 241-6005
- cvernon4@coastline.edu
District Resources
Both Orange Coast College and Golden West College Health services are available to Coastline students. The Health Centers at OCC and GWC by law to maintain near or complete confidentiality with limited expectations. This means these employees can offer options and advice without any obligation to inform the Title IX Coordinator, unless you request your information to be shared.
- OCC Health service providers and staff
- (714) 432-5808
- Located at the Student Health Center
- GWC Health service providers and staff
- (714) 895-8379
- Located at the Student Health Center
- Health services available to victims and accused students.
Off Campus Resources
- North County Rape Crisis Center
- (714) 834-4317
- South Sexual Assault Victim Services
- (949) 831-9110
- Anaheim Regional Medical Center
- (714) 774-1450
- Call 24 Hour Rape Crisis Hotline
- (714) 957-2737
To Report to Local Police
Off-campus victims should immediately call 9-1-1 to report the crime to local law enforcement authorities. Reporting a rape or other act of sexual violence does not commit a victim to filing charges. Even if the victim was under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of an attack, a sex crime has still occurred. California Penal Code says that sexual assault victims cannot be charged for misdemeanor alcohol or drug use at the time of the attack.
You can make a police report to the appropriate police department in which the incident occurred.
If this is an emergency, call 911.
You can make a report to Campus Safety at (714) 241-6360.
You can make a report to the campus Title IX Coordinator, Leighia Fleming at (714) 241-6130 or file a report online.
If the incident involves a Coastline College or District faculty or staff member, you can file a complaint with the District Office of Human Resources at (714) 438-4707.
Forensic Sexual Assault Exams
First Step After Sexual Assault: your safety is the top priority.
If you are in danger, call 911. Once you're out of physical danger, contact someone you know and trust, such as a friend, relative, teacher, school counselor, friend's parent, doctor or supportive adult.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, violent crime or a traumatic circumstance, please contact the 24/7 line (407) 500-HEAL.
Search locations to receive a Forensic Sexual Assault Exam.
Other Services (for victims and for accused students)
Preserving Evidence
The College encourages all individuals to seek assistance from a medical provider and/or law enforcement immediately after an incident of sexual violence. This is the best option to ensure preservation of evidence and to begin a timely investigative and remedial response.
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Information for Complainant and Respondent
If you are a student at Coastline Community College (CCC), and you have been the victim of sexual harassment, sexual violence or other gender-based harassment it is important that you read the following information. Although not intended to be a comprehensive explanation of your options and rights, this information may be useful to you.
- Title IX
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Sexual harassment, sexual violence and other gender-based harassment occurring in the college setting implicates a federal law called Title IX of the Higher Education Amendments of 1972, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in education programs or activities and which triggers certain responsibilities on the part of the college. CCC has a Title IX Officer who can help explain the college's responsibilities in these cases. The Title IX Office is located in the College Center and the Title IX Officer can be reached at 714.241.6130 or TitleIX@coastline.edu.
CCC is committed to maintaining a positive learning, working and living environment. The college will not tolerate acts of sexual harassment or sexual violence or related retaliation against or by any employee or student. When sexual harassment or sexual violence has occurred and is brought to the attention of a responsible administrator, steps will be taken to end the harassment or violence, prevent its reoccurrence, and address its effects.
- Informal Resolution vs. Formal Investigation
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The Title IX Officer will review the allegations and determine an appropriate course of action. Some cases can be handled informally and outside of the formal investigative process, although the college will not mediate cases of sexual violence even on a voluntary basis. For cases that result in an investigation, those investigations are conducted by individuals who have received specialized training in those types of investigations. All investigations will be conducted in a thorough and neutral manner.
When the college becomes aware of sexual violence, the college may have an obligation to proceed with an investigation, regardless of a complainant's wishes, in order to ensure campus safety. You are not required to participate if you choose not to; however, this may limit the college's ability to respond to the incident. If you request that your name or other identifying information not be used in an investigation, the college will consider your request in light of the context of its responsibility to provide a safe and nondiscriminatory environment. In most cases, information including your name may be shared with the respondent, witnesses and with college officials who have a legitimate need to know. Beyond that, the college will take steps to protect your identity and the identity of all individuals involved.
- Standard of Proof
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In the college's process, the complainant and respondent will not be permitted to directly question each other and are not required to be present together at any point. Both a complainant and a respondent have the right to identify witnesses and provide other information relevant to the investigation. The college will decide the case based on a preponderance of the evidence standard (whether or not it is more likely than not that the conduct occurred).
- When Law Enforcement is Involved
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In most cases, the college will not wait until a criminal case is resolved before proceeding with the case. In addition, if a college official has a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed, she or he may be obligated to report that to law enforcement if police have not already been notified. In cases where a police investigation has been conducted or is being conducted, law enforcement may be able to provide some information to the Title IX Officer with the victim's consent. The college's fact-finding investigation may be delayed for a short period of time upon a request from law enforcement, but will be resumed as soon as possible.
- Investigation and Determination Timeframe
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Most sexual violence or sexual harassment investigations conducted through the Title IX Office take up to 60 days to be resolved, depending on the complexity of the case and the number of parties involved. The college will keep a complainant advised as to the status of the case as the complainant desires and as is reasonable. The complainant will be informed of the outcome of the case in writing.
- When Alcohol and Drugs are Involved
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Because the school's primary concern is student safety, minor alcohol and drug violations by a complainant may be handled informally. If you are underage, you will not get in trouble if you report a sexual assault that happened while you were drinking. The use of alcohol or other drugs never makes the victim at fault for sexual violence. An individual accused of sexual misconduct does not avoid or mitigate responsibility because s/he was under the influence of alcohol or other drugs.
- Remedies and Interim Sanctions
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The college will take interim steps to protect a complainant and a respondent while the case is pending. Depending on the case and the complainant's wishes, these steps may include class moves, ordering a respondent to not have contact with the complainant, excluding a respondent from parts of campus, or providing an escort to accompany you on campus. Any adjustments made will be designed to minimize the burden on the complainant's educational program. Some of these actions may also be remedies in those cases resulting in a finding of a policy violation.
- Protection from Retaliation
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CCC has a policy which prohibits retaliation against any employee or student who reports an incident of alleged sexual harassment or sexual violence, or any employee or student who testifies, assists or participates in a proceeding, investigation or hearing relating to these allegations. Respondents are informed of this provision, and any retaliation should be reported immediately to the appropriate Title IX Officer.
- Student Bill of Rights for Victims/Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
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All students have the right to:
- Make a report to local law enforcement and/or state police;
- Have disclosures of domestic violence, stalking, and sexual assault treated seriously;
- Make a decision whether or not to disclose a crime or violation and participate in the judicial/conduct process and/or criminal justice process free from pressure by the institution;
- Participate in a process that is fair, impartial, and provides adequate notice and a meaningful opportunity to be heard;
- Be treated with dignity and to receive from the institution courteous, fair, and respectful health care and counseling services;
- Be free from any suggestion that the reporting individual is at fault when these crimes and violations are committed, or should have acted in a different manner to avoid such crimes or violations;
- Describe the incident to as few institutional representatives as practicable and not be required to unnecessarily repeat a description of the incident;
- Be protected from retaliation by the institution, any student, the accused and/or respondent and/or their friends, family, and acquaintances within the jurisdiction of the institution;
- Access to at least one level of appeal of a determination;
- Be accompanied by an advisor of choice who may assist and advise a reporting individual, accused, or respondent throughout the judicial or conduct process including during all meetings and hearings related to such process; and
- Exercise civil rights and practice of religion without interference by the investigative, criminal justice, or judicial or conduct process of the institution.
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At Coastline Community College, we highly encourage bystander intervention as it relates to any form of potential violence such as sexual misconduct, bullying, or any other forms of gender-based discrimination. The following are resources on how to intervene when a potential problem arises with a friend who may need assistance.
- Men Can Stop Rape - Creating Cultures Free From Violence
- National Sexual Violence Resource Center
- No More Campaign: Together We Can End Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault
Bystander Intervention Techniques (the 4 D's)
Please remember that your safety is of the utmost importance. When a situation that threatens physical harm to yourself or another student, ask someone for help or contact the police.
- Direct: Step in and address the situation directly. This might look like saying, "That's not cool. Please stop." or "Hey, leave them alone." This technique tends to work better when the person that you're trying to stop is someone that knows and trusts you. It does not work well when drugs or alcohol are being used because someone's ability to have a conversation with you about what is going on may be impaired, and they are more likely to become defensive.
- Distract: Distract either person in the situation to intervene. This might look like saying, "Hey, aren't you in my Spanish class?" or "Who wants to go get pizza?" This technique is especially useful when drugs or alcohol are being used because people under the influence are more easily distracted then those that are sober.
- Delegate: Find others who can help you to intervene in the situation. This might look like asking a friend to distract one person in the situation while you distract the other ("splitting" or "defensive split"), asking someone to go sit with them and talk, or going and starting a dance party right in the middle of their conversation. If you didn't know either person in the situation, you could also ask around to see if someone else does and check in with them. See if they can go talk to their friend, text their friend to check in, or intervene.
- Delay: For many reasons, you may not be able to do something right in the moment. For example, if you're feeling unsafe or if you're unsure whether or not someone in the situation is feeling unsafe, you may just want to check in with the person. In this case, you can combine a distraction technique by asking the person to use the bathroom with you or go get a drink with you to separate them from the person that they are talking with. Then, this might look like asking them, "Are you okay?" or "How can I help you get out of this situation?" This could also look like texting the person, either in the situation or after you see them leave and asking, "Are you okay?" or "Do you need help?
Additional Information
Below the Title IX office has gathered additional information about sexual violence - risk reduction tips and frequently asked questions. Please contact us for further information.
The Title IX Director has completed multiple certifications and is a member of ATIXA. All members of the Title IX are trained in the process. For more information on their training please view ATIXA's Training Materials.
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Sexual Violence - Risk Reduction Tips
Risk reduction tips can often take a victim-blaming tone, even unintentionally. With no intention to victim-blame, and with recognition that only those who commit sexual violence are responsible for those actions, these suggestions may nevertheless help you to reduce your risk experiencing a non-consensual sexual act. Below, suggestions to avoid committing a non-consensual sexual act are also offered:
- If you have limits, make them known as early as possible.
- Tell a sexual aggressor "NO" clearly and firmly.
- Try to remove yourself from the physical presence of a sexual aggressor.
- Find someone nearby and ask for help.
- Take affirmative responsibility for your alcohol intake/drug use and acknowledge that alcohol/drugs lower your sexual inhibitions and may make you vulnerable to someone who views a drunk or high person as a sexual opportunity.
- Take care of your friends and ask that they take care of you. A real friend will challenge you if you are about to make a mistake. Respect them when they do.
If you find yourself in the position of being the initiator of sexual behavior, you owe sexual respect to your potential partner. These suggestions may help you to reduce your risk for being accused of sexual misconduct:
- Clearly communicate your intentions to your sexual partner and give them a chance to clearly relate their intentions to you.
- Understand and respect personal boundaries.
- DON'T MAKE ASSUMPTIONS about consent; about someone's sexual availability; about whether they are attracted to you; about how far you can go or about whether they are physically and/or mentally able to consent. If there are any questions or ambiguity then you DO NOT have consent.
- Mixed messages from your partner are a clear indication that you should stop, defuse any sexual tension and communicate better. You may be misreading them. They may not have figured out how far they want to go with you yet. You must respect the timeline for sexual behaviors with which they are comfortable.
- Don't take advantage of someone's drunkenness or drugged state, even if they did it to themselves.
- Realize that your potential partner could be intimidated by you, or fearful. You may have a power advantage simply because of your gender or size. Don't abuse that power.
- Understand that consent to some form of sexual behavior does not automatically imply consent to any other forms of sexual behavior.
- Silence and passivity cannot be interpreted as an indication of consent. Read your potential partner carefully, paying attention to verbal and non-verbal communication and body language.
- In campus hearings, legal terms like "guilt, "innocence" and "burdens of proof" are not applicable, but the college never assumes a student is in violation of district policy. Campus hearings are conducted to take into account the totality of all evidence available, from all relevant sources.
- The college reserves the right to take whatever measures it deems necessary in response to an allegation of sexual misconduct in order to protect students' rights and personal safety. Such measures include, but are not limited to, interim suspension from campus pending a hearing and reporting the matter to the local police. Not all forms of sexual misconduct will be deemed to be equally serious offenses, and the college reserves the right to impose different sanctions, ranging from verbal warning to expulsion, depending on the severity of the offense. The college will consider the concerns and rights of both the complainant and the person accused of sexual misconduct.
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OFFENSES INCLUDE, BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO
- Sexual Harassment
- Non-Consensual Sexual Contact (or attempts to commit same)
- Non-Consensual Sexual Intercourse (or attempts to commit same)
- Sexual Exploitation
Local Resources
Off-Campus Community Resources:
Domestic Violence Assistance Programs Sexual Assault Victim Services/Rape Crisis- Website: Sexual Assault Victim Services/Rape Crisis, Orange County
- Phone: 24-Hour Hotline: 714-957-2737 or 949-831-9110
- Website: Casa di la Familia
- Phone:714-667-5220
- Website: Mariposa Women & Family Center
- Phone: 714-547-6494
Victim Referral Services
National Hotlines:
LGBTQ
- LGBT National Hotline: 888-843-4564
- The Trevor Project: 866-488-7386
Dating, Domestic, and Intimate Partner Violence
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-SAFE (7233)
- Human Options: 877-854-3594
Rape, Sexual Assault, Incest, and Abuse
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 800-656-HOPE (4673)
Suicide
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255
Contact Us
Christina Oja, Ed.D., Acting Director Student Equity and Title IX
Student Services Center in Fountain Valley