Public Safety » Rape and Sexual Violence

For more than 20 years, Gwynedd-Mercy College has proactively addressed the issues of rape and sexual violence through seminars, forums and other presentations. Gwynedd-Mercy College also conducts educational and training programs for its employees who interact with students, including Public Safety officers, coaches, student services personnel in the Office of Student Services, members of the campus ministries and those who provide services in the student residences.

Acquaintance rape is a form of sexual violence defined under our policy as any act in which a person forces another person with whom he or she is acquainted to engage in sexual activity against his or her will or without his or her consent. Assent does not constitute consent if it is given by a person who because of youth, mental disability or intoxication is unable to make a reasonable judgment. This policy applies to groups as well as individuals.

Support Services
Gwynedd-Mercy College will provide support for victims of rape and any form of sexual violence, and is committed to providing resources and processes for prevention, education, reporting, adjudication, protection from retaliation and sanctions. The Director of Counseling Services at Gwynedd-Mercy College is the designated coordinator of support services for individuals who have been victimized.

Any member of the community who is a victim of sexual violence is encouraged to seek support and assistance and to report the incident. When a victim of a sex offense contacts the Counseling Services Department, the individual will be advised of health, legal and other support services available on- and off-campus and the victim will be assisted in accessing these services. Available support may also include academic and housing accommodations if requested. Students are encouraged to contact the Counseling Services office at extension 571 from a campus telephone or 215-646-7300 ext. 571 from off-campus/cell phones in order to report an incident confidentially. Students may also report an incident by dialing 1-1-1 from a campus telephone, by using one of the blue light emergency telephones on campus.

Reporting Procedures
Due to sensitive issues involved in rape and other sexual assaults, the victim may disclose the incident some time after it has occurred, but the victim is nonetheless encouraged to contact Counseling Services for support and assistance and to report the incident as soon as possible.

Incidents that are reported to the appropriate departments at Gwynedd-Mercy College will be addressed promptly and will be treated as discretely as possible. The procedures that govern the investigation of acquaintance rape will take into account both the need to gather the facts and the rights of all parties involved in the incident.

Those within the campus community who are found responsible for rape or other sexual violence are subject to College sanctions, which may include suspension or expulsion from the College. The individual also may be subject to prosecution by the Office of the District Attorney under Pennsylvania criminal statutes. In any College disciplinary proceeding involving charges of sexual assault, the accused and the accuser are entitled to the same opportunity to have others present during the proceeding and both the accused and the accuser are informed of the outcome of the proceeding.

To pursue criminal options, it is important to preserve evidence. If the victim elects to go through the criminal justice system and/or receive medical treatment, personnel from Counseling Services will accompany the victim to the Hospital for evaluation, treatment and/or evidence collection. Whether the victim chooses to report an incident of rape or sexual violence to the Counseling Services office, the Public Safety Department or another resource center within the campus community, the victim will be informed of reporting options, including the right to report the incident fully and completely to the Lower Gwynedd Police Department, or the right to file no report. If requested, College personnel will assist the individual in notifying appropriate authorities.

The Rape and Sexual Violence Policy is stated in the Public Safety and Security Guide which is available online at www.gmc.edu

The Campus Sex Crimes Prevention Act, a federal law, requires institutions of higher education to advise the campus community where information concerning registered sex offenders may be obtained. In Pennsylvania, information about sexually violent predators is accessible at the following website: www.psp.state.pa.us. For more information about sex offender registration in Pennsylvania see www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us.