The Title IX law

“No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Citation: Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, and its implementing regulation at 34 C.F.R. Part 106 (Title IX).

Often thought of as a law that applies to gender equity in athletics programs, Title IX law has been interpreted further to include all forms of sexual misconduct and gender based violence against any member of our university community. All members of the campus community are also responsible to report if they witness or hear of any incident of sexual misconduct or gender based violence.

Christiana Paradis
Director of Title IX Compliance
570-372-4321
paradis@susqu.edu

The Title IX Coordinator is responsible for the monitoring and oversight of the overall implementation of Title IX compliance at the university. This includes administration of the reporting process and coordination of training, education and communications for faculty, staff, students and other members of the university community.

Pennsylvania Victim’s Bill of Rights

As a victim of crime in Pennsylvania you have the following rights:

• To receive basic information concerning the services available
• In personal injury crimes, to be notified of the arrest of the suspect or the suspect’s escape from police custody;
• To be accompanied at all public criminal proceedings by a family member, a victim advocate or another person;
• In case of personal injury crimes, burglary, or driving under the influence involving bodily injury, to submit prior comment to the prosecutor’s office on the potential reduction or dropping of any charge or changing of a plea, if the victim so requests;
• To offer prior comment or to submit a written impact statement for the judge’s consideration at sentencing;
• To obtain restitution to the extent possible, including compensation through the State Crime Victim’s Compensation program;
• Upon request, where the offender is sentenced to a state prison, to provide prior comment on and to receive notice of release decisions, and to be immediately notified if the offender escapes;
• Upon request, in personal injury crimes, where the offender is sentenced to a local correctional facility, to receive notification of any release or escape of the offender, in addition to any relevant conditions imposed prior to release;
• Upon prior request, to receive notice when an offender is committed to a mental health facility from a state prison and of the discharge, transfer or escape of the offender from the mental health facility, and;
• Upon request, to have assistance in the preparation of, submission of and follow-up on the financial assistance claims for the state Victims’ Compensation

Other Legislation

Violence Against Women Act

VAWA supports investigation and prosecution of violent crimes against women. The act, which was reauthorized in 2013, makes it easier to prosecute crimes against women, including gender based violence incidents.

Campus Sexual Violence Elimination (SaVE) Act

SaVE Act is a law that helps increase transparency on campus about incidents of gender based violence, specifically sexual violence. It guarantees survivors enhanced rights, sets standards for disciplinary proceedings, and requires campus wide prevention education program. It was signed into law in 2013.

The Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Crime Statistics Act

The Clery Act requires colleges and universities that receive federal funding to disseminate a public annual security report (ASR) to employees and students every October 1st. This ASR must include statistics of campus crime for the preceding three calendar years, plus details about efforts taken to improve campus safety. ASRs must also include policy statements regarding (but not limited to) crime reporting, campus facility security and access, law enforcement authority, incidence of alcohol and drug use, and the prevention of/response to gender based violence. To find the most recent report click here. You can file an incident of gender based violence here.