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Sexual Assault, Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment Information

Sexual assault, sexual violence and sexual harassment are difficult subjects to talk about but it is important that you have information to prevent an assault as well as to obtain immediate help should an assault occur. This information will assist you in making informed decisions about how to protect yourself and what to do if you, or someone you know, ever become a victim of sexual harassment or sexual violence.
Examples of sexual harassment include unwanted, uninvited, unsolicited verbal or written contacts, stalking, or leering with intention to harass, intimidate, threaten, retaliate or create conflict, including the use of electronic means of communication (California Penal Code, sections 422, 646.9).

Specifically, sexual harassment or stalking includes:

  • Sexual advances or requests for sexual favors.
  • Physical, verbal or nonverbal behavior that is sexual in nature or is hostile, demeaning, or intimidating.
  • Sexual comments, jokes, or innuendoes.
  • Purposely engaging in conduct directed at a specific person that seriously alarms, annoys, torments, or terrorizes the person
    and serves no legitimate purpose.

Sexual assault is the unsolicited and unwanted touching, or threat of touching, of an intimate part of another person’s body. This also includes situations where the victim is unable to resist due to alcohol or drug use. (California Penal Code, sections 240, 242, 243.4).

Sexual violence includes both sexual assault and rape. Rape is sexual intercourse against a person’s will by use of threat, force or fear of injury for resisting. This includes the inability to resist due to being in a state of unconsciousness, sleep, being under the influence of medications, drugs, alcohol, etc. (California Penal Code, sections 261-266).

Date violence includes any abuse, mistreatment, or sexual contact without consent at any stage of a dating relationship.

Sexual harassment and sexual violence are crimes that are not tolerated on this campus. Mt. San Antonio College has adopted Board Policies (AP3430, AP3540) and procedures designed to prevent sexual crimes, stating sanctions for offenders, and supporting access to treatment and information for victims. All applicable punishment, including criminal charges, and/or employee or student disciplinary action, shall be applied whether the violator is an employee, student or member of the general public.

MYTHS AND FACTS

Reference: The California Coalition Against Sexual Assault

Myth: Men rape women because it’s a man’s nature and biological role.
Fact:  There are many societies in which men never rape women.

Myth: Only certain types of women get raped. It could never happen to me.
Fact: Any woman can be raped. Victims vary from the very young to the elderly; they come from all socio-economic levels, and are of all sexual orientations.

Myth: Men rape because they are sexually aroused or have been sexually deprived.
Fact: Men rape to exert control and confirm their power. Motives often include hostility against women in general, the desire to feel and exert power and control, and the desire to humiliate, degrade, or inflict pain. Most rapists have available sexual partners at the same time that they are raping others.

Myth: Rapes are committed by strangers at night in dark alleys.
Fact: Most rapes are committed by someone known to the victim and at any time of the day or night. Most rapes occur in the victim’s own home.

Myth: Men who rape are “psychos.”
Fact: Men who rape are mostly ordinary, everyday guys. Only a tiny percentage of men who rape would be considered clinically
insane by standard psychiatric criteria.

Myth: Acquaintance rapes are not as serious as stranger rapes.
Fact: Acquaintance rape is as serious as rape by a stranger. Those who are raped by someone they know experience a similar
degree of trauma to those raped by a stranger.

Myth: Men can never be raped.
Fact: Men can be and are sexually assaulted. According to U.S. Department of Justice statistics, an estimated 9 percent of rape
survivors are male.

PREVENTION

  • Be aware of your surroundings! Stay away from isolated areas, day or night.
  • Don’t walk alone on the campus at night. When leaving a classroom ask others to walk with you to your next destination.
  • If you are being followed, walk or run to a crowded area as fast as you can. If you are driving, drive to a lighted, populated place, police or fire station.
  • Campus Escorts are available during evening hours to assure your safety on campus and in parking lots. They are provided at your request, please call (909) 274-4555.
  • Blue emergency telephone towers are located throughout the campus and parking lots for you to access Public Safety immediately should you need assistance with any emergency occurrence.
  • Avoid excessive use of drugs, alcohol and any other substances that interfere with your ability to think clearly and communicate effectively.
  • Lock all doors to your car and residence at all times.
  • Communicate with your roommate or family so they know when to expect you and where you are supposed to be.
  • Information booths, workshops and guest lectures addressing sexual harassment & violence are offered by Student Health Services every semester. To obtain current schedule information please call (909) 274-4400.

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF AN ASSAULT

If you, or another student, become the victim of sexual violence or harassment, please do the following:

  • Get to a safe place as fast as possible.
  • Get help. Call Public Safety from a blue emergency telephone tower or dial (909) 274-4555, or call 911 (9-911 from a campus office telephone) or alert any College employee that is nearby.
  • Contact the Student Life Office, 9C, (909) 274-4525, or the Student Health Center, 67B, (909) 274-4400.
  • Do not shower, bathe, wash your hands or face, douche, change or destroy clothing, or brush your hair or teeth until police arrive.
  • Do not clean the area or dispose of any items in the immediate area.
  • If you do not wish to call the police, ask a friend or family member to take you to a hospital or health center for help.
  • Confidential emotional support is available in the Student Health Center, ext. 4400, Project Sister, (909) 626-4357, or the Rape Crisis Center, (213) 626-3393.
  • If you have been assaulted in the past and need confidential counseling, contact Student Health Services, (909)274- 4400, or any of the services listed in this section.

PEER SUPPORT

If you witness or are informed about a sexual assault or sexual violence action taking place on the college campus, you are encouraged to report the crime to any College employee, such as a counselor, professor, Public Safety at (909) 274- 4555, or Student Life Office 9C, (909) 274-4525. If it is somebody that you know, you can help them by encouraging them to report the incident.

REPORTING AN ASSAULT

If you are a victim of an assault and were involved in any possible violation of the Standards of Conduct such as alcohol or drug use, you are encouraged to report the incident; the safety of students is the College’s primary concern. If the assault happened on or near campus, find a blue emergency telephone tower on campus, push the button and you will be connected with campus Public Safety, or call Public Safety at (909) 274-4555, or call 911.

If the assault happened in the past, a police reports may be filed by contacting the police department of the city where the assault occurred.

Walnut Sheriffs may be contacted at (909) 595-2264. This department has responsibility for the investigation of sexual assaults occurring at or near the College.

HOW TO FILE A COMPLAINT CONCERNING A COLLEGE EMPLOYEE

Anyone wishing to file a complaint concerning a college employee must contact the Director of Human Resources/EEO located in Bldg. 4, or at (909) 274-4225.

CONSEQUENCES OF COMMITTING ACTS OF SEXUAL VIOLENCE

Any sexual assault or harassment, whether committed by an employee, student, or member of the public that occurs on College property is a violation of College policies and procedures, and is subject to all applicable punishment, including criminal procedures and employee or student discipline procedures.

Student disciplinary action can result in immediate suspension and/or expulsion. (Board Policy 3540, 3500 & 5500)

FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act)
FERPA allows the college to disclose to an alleged victim of any crime of violence or non-forcible sex offense the final results of a disciplinary proceeding conducted by the college against the alleged perpetrator of that crime.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT

  • Project Sister (24 hr. Rape Hotline) | (909) 626-4357
  • East L.A. Hotline (Bilingual-Spanish) | (800) 585-6231
  • Pacific Clinics Call Center (Mental Health) | (877) 722-2737


LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES

  • Baldwin Park Police Department
    14403 Pacific Avenue, Baldwin Park, CA 91706
    626-960-1955
  • Claremont Police Department
    570 West Bonita Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711
    909-399-5411
  • Covina Police Department
    444 North Citrus Avenue, Covina, CA 91723
    626-384-5595
  • La Verne Police Department
    2061 Third Street, La Verne, CA 91750
    909-596-1913
  • Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department:
    City of Industry Sheriff Station – Serving City of Industry, Bassett, Hacienda Heights, La Puente, and Valinda
    150 North Hudson Avenue, City of Industry, CA 91744
    626-330-3322
  • Walnut Sheriff Station
    Serving Diamond Bar, Rowland Heights, Walnut
    21695 Valley Blvd., Walnut, CA 91789
    909-913-1715
  • San Dimas Sheriff Station
    Serving San Dimas, unincorporated areas of Azusa, Claremont, Covina, Glendora, La Verne
    270 South Walnut Avenue, San Dimas, CA 91773
    909-450-2700
  • Pomona Police Department
    490 West Mission Blvd., Pomona, CA 91766 
    909-620-2155
  • West Covina Police Department
    1444 West Garvey Street, West Covina, CA 91790
    626-939-8500

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