Assistance and Reporting

 IMMEDIATE AND ONGOING ASSISTANCE FOLLOWING AN INCIDENT OF SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

ORU will seek to support any person adversely impacted by sexual misconduct.  Both ORU and the Tulsa community provide a variety of resources to assist and support individuals who have experienced sexual misconduct or affected by allegations of sexual misconduct. These resources, both immediate and ongoing, are available to all persons irrespective of their decision to report to ORU or to law enforcement.  Contact information for on- and off-campus resources (including confidential resources) who can provide an immediate response in a crisis situation, including assisting with obtaining needed resources and explaining reporting options, is listed in the Resources section at the end of this policy and on ORU’s website.  Emergency numbers and information about health care options are also listed in the Resources section at the end of this policy and on ORU’s website.

Support services that may be available include, but are not limited to, connecting the individual with appropriate on-campus and off-campus counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid, and support services; making changes to academic, living, transportation, and/or working arrangements; assistance in filing a criminal complaint; and providing information about restraining orders and other available protections and services.  Additional information about ongoing assistance is in the Interim Measures section below.  To receive information about obtaining support services, individuals should contact the Title IX Coordinator or a confidential resource.

ORU will provide written notification to affected individuals about existing counseling, health, mental health, victim advocacy, legal assistance, visa and immigration assistance, student financial aid, and other services available for victims, both within ORU and in the community.

A complete description of ORU and community resources, both confidential and non-confidential, and additional information regarding what individuals can do if they experience sexual violence is provided in the Resources section at the end of this policy and on ORU’s website.  Individuals who believe they have been subjected to any form of sexual misconduct are encouraged to seek support from these resources.

 

REPORTING SEXUAL MISCONDUCT

Reports to ORU

ORU encourages anyone who has experienced sexual misconduct to report the incident to the University.  An individual may provide a report to ORU by contacting the following:

• Title IX Coordinator:  Danny Sexton, 918-495-7874, dsexton@oru.edu, riskmanagement@oru.edu
• Campus Safety and Security:  918-495-7750.
• VP of Student Development:  Lori Cook, lcook@oru.edu, 918-495-7708, LRC 2W1
• Dean of Student Development: Zachary Robinson, zrobinson@oru.edu, 918-495-7708, LRC 2W3

Reports to ORU should include as much information as possible, including the names of the individual alleging they have experienced sexual misconduct and the accused, and the date, time, place, and circumstances of the incidents, to enable ORU to respond appropriately.  Reports can be made by telephone, via email, in person or our online complaint form available with the "red" banner access on this page.

Employee Reporting Obligations

In order to enable ORU to respond effectively and to prevent future instances of sexual misconduct, all University employees who are not confidential resources, who obtain or receive information regarding a possible violation of this policy must report that information to the Title IX Coordinator. Student employees who receive such information in the course of their work position or duties also must report the information to the Title IX Coordinator.  Such report should be made as soon as possible and should include all relevant details needed to assess the situation.  This includes, to the extent known, the names of the accused (if known), the individual alleged to have experienced the sexual misconduct, other individuals involved in the incident, as well as relevant facts, including the date, time, and location.  Employees who receive such reports should not attempt to “investigate” the allegation or require the alleged victim/reporting individual to provide all of the details surrounding the alleged misconduct.  To the extent the alleged victim/reporting individual provides detail, that information should be provided to the Title IX Coordinator.  Upon receiving a report of alleged or possible sexual misconduct, the Title IX Coordinator or the Title IX Coordinator’s designee(s) will evaluate the information received and determine what further actions should be taken consistent with the Procedures for Sexual Misconduct Complaint Resolution and this policy. 

Mandatory Reporting Concerning Minors

Any University employee becoming aware of the abuse (physical or sexual) or neglect of a child under the age of 18 must report it immediately to Campus Security and the Title IX Coordinator.  In addition, as a mandatory reporter under Oklahoma law, such individual must also immediately report the abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services (“OKDHS”) or the Oklahoma Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-522-3511, as required by law.  Under Oklahoma law, all persons are mandatory reporters.  By law, reporting child abuse or neglect is an individual responsibility and the failure to report in a timely manner is a crime. No person, regardless of their relationship to the child or family, is exempt from reporting suspected abuse. A person reporting in good faith, however, is immune from both civil and criminal liability. Reporting child abuse or neglect to ORU does not satisfy the individual’s responsibility to make a report to OKDHS.  See Oklahoma Statutes Section 10A-1-2-101.

Anonymous Reports

ORU will accept anonymous reports of sexual misconduct.  Reports may be filed anonymously using ORU’s anonymous online reporting form without requesting further action from ORU.  The individual making the report is encouraged to provide as much detailed information as possible to allow ORU to investigate the report and respond as appropriate.  ORU may be limited in its ability to investigate an anonymous report unless sufficient information is furnished to enable the University to conduct a meaningful and fair investigation. 

Reports to Law Enforcement

Individuals who believe they may have been subjected to criminal sexual misconduct are strongly encouraged to notify local law enforcement authorities and will be assisted by campus authorities in notifying law enforcement authorities, if the individual so chooses.  Individuals also have the option to decline to notify such authorities.  Reporting to law enforcement is not necessary for ORU to proceed with an investigation.

If a report involves the physical or sexual abuse or neglect of a child under the age of 18, it must be reported to OKDHS authorities pursuant to Oklahoma’s mandatory reporting law.

Protective Orders and No-Contact Directives

A protective order, also called a restraining order, is a legal order issued by a state court which requires one person to have no contact with another.  A victim can file a petition for protective order relating to domestic abuse, rape, stalking, and some forms of harassment.  A protective order is designed to stop violent and harassing behavior and to protect a victim and their family from an accused.  It may order the accused to move out of a home that is shared and/or to stop hurting, threatening, stalking, and/or harassing the victim.  Once the court grants a protective order against someone, that person has a duty to actively stay away from the victim.  Petition forms to apply for a protective order are available at the Court Administration Office located at the Tulsa County Courthouse. The Court Administration Office has all the necessary forms and can answer any questions.  The main number for Court Administration is (918) 596-5000.  Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS) has advocates that can assist an individual in filling out paperwork needed for a protective order and can be contacted at (918) 742-7480. 

A no-contact directive is an ORU-issued directive that prohibits one or both parties from communication or contact with another.  No-contact directives may be mutual or one-sided.  Generally, no-contact directives issued pending the outcome of an investigation will be mutual and serve as notice to both parties that they must not have verbal, electronic, written, or third party communication with one another.  To request a no-contact directive from ORU, individuals should contact the Title IX Coordinator.

Amnesty and Restoration Related to Drug/Alcohol and Sexual Activity Violations

ORU understands that sometimes an individual may be reluctant to report an instance of sexual misconduct out of concern that other conduct relating to the incident (e.g. use of alcohol or drugs or sexual activity) involves a violation of the Honor Code.  ORU’s overriding concern is for the safety of its students and employees and ORU strongly encourages all individuals to report any instance of sexual misconduct.  Consistent with ORU’s Amnesty and Restoration policy (link to Discipline, Amnesty & Restoration, Grievance Procedures), if an individual who makes a report of sexual misconduct seeks amnesty and support for their own potential Honor Code violations, in accordance with this policy, ORU will address such violations with education and prevention rather than disciplinary action.