HNU Sexual Assault Response Protocol

October 22, 2018

I. Survivor Response:

  • Go to a safe place. Confide in someone you trust. Please remember that our

Counseling and Psychological Services can provide you with a safe space in the event of an emergency. These confidential services are free and counselors are exempt from reporting an incident to university or local authorities.

  • You have the right to decide whether or not to report a rape. We recommend that you also contact a university official as soon as possible. While HNU is required by law to report incidents of sexual assault, confidentiality laws prohibit us from disclosing a survivor’s name or any other personal or identifying information.

What this means:Your identity will be protected unless you agree otherwise.

  • University and local community organizations can support you in your decision. Below is a list of HNU staff that can support you as well the contact information for BAWAR, a local organization that supports survivors of sexual assault. BAWAR (Bay Area Women Against Rape) will provide current factual information so that you can make an informed decision about reporting.

BAWAR and Holy Names University Officials will support your decision, whether you decide to report or not.

If You Do Want to Report:
Go to a safe place
To preserve evidence, do not douche, bath or change clothing
Call 911 or someone you trust to take you to a hospital
Call BAWAR – they will meet you in the emergency room and help with reporting.

BAWAR: Call BAWAR at (510) 845-RAPE (7273)

If You Don't Want to Report or Are Not Sure:
  • Go to a safe place.
  • Call BAWAR at (510) 845-RAPE (7273) - we can discuss alternatives.
  • Get to a clinic as soon as possible to check for internal injuries and/or sexually transmitted diseases. (Tell them you had painful, unprotected intercourse.)

HolyNamesUniversity Staff Member to Contact:

Holy Names University Officials that can be of assistance to you. Please remember, while university officials (with the exception of Counseling and Psychological Services) are required to report an incident of sexual assault, it is up to you if you want your identity disclosed.

  • Adam Beyda, Director, Counseling and Psychological Services

510-436-1530; , Durocher A7

  • Cesar Cardenas, Assistant Athletic Trainer

510-436-1237, ; Tobin Athletic Complex

  • Heather French, Associate Dean of Student Affairs and Director of Campus Life

510-436-1294; , Soda Commons

  • Dennis Jones, Director, Athletics

510-436-1319; ; Tobin Athletic Complex

  • Dana Kirkpatrick, Director, Security

510-436-1601; ; Campus Safety Office

  • Laura Lyndon, Dean for Student Success

510-436-1658; ; Brennan Hall

  • Michael Miller, Vice President, Student Affairs and Enrollment Management

510-436-1360; , Brennan Hall

  • Bill Plonsky, Director Athletic Training
  • Carrie Rehack, Director, Campus Ministry

510-436-1081; ; Founders Hall

  • Sr. Susan Wells, SNJM, Student Affairs

510-436-1280; ; Brennan Hall

Reports made to a Resident Assistant:

  • RAs should be empathetic, make sure the student is safe and encourage the student to immediately contact BAWAR: (510) 845-RAPE (7273).
  • RA will explain that s/he is required to notify the Coordinator of Residence Life. RA will explain that s/he will not reveal student’s identity or other identifying information unless the student agrees in writing.
  • At no time during or after the incident should the RA insist or persuade the student to:
  • Fully disclose to Campus Safety or other entities their identity
  • File a report with police or other authorities
  • Discriminate or otherwise intentionally alienate the survivor.

Coordinator will notify the following of the incident. If known, Coordinator will not disclose student’s identity with exception to Director of Counseling Services.

  • Residence Life
  • Counseling & Psychological Services
  • Associate Dean of Students, Student Affairs
  • VP, Student Affairs
  • Director, StudentSuccessCenter
  • Campus Safety
  • Campus Ministry

Coordinator should continue to support the student, through the Resident Assistant. Resident Assistant should also be reminded of confidentiality and also referred to Counseling Services and BAWAR for additional support. RA will continue to support student through a follow-up that is decided upon by the RA and the student. Other outlets for support include the student’s friends, family and other trusted members of the campus community.

Reports to Residence Life:

  • Resident Life Staff should be empathetic, make sure the student is safe and assist the student in securing needed professional services, including but not limited to those mentioned above. Student should be made aware of confidential community resources including BAWAR: (510) 845-RAPE (7273).
  • If this department is the first contact made by the student, the staff member should assure the student that although s/he is required to file an anonymous sexual assault report with Campus Safety, this report will contain no identifying information regarding the student unless the student has given written consent.
  • Resident Life Staff will notify the following of an incident:
  • Counseling Services
  • Associate Dean of Students, Student Affairs
  • VP, Student Affairs
  • StudentSuccessCenter
  • Campus Safety
  • Campus Ministry
  • Continue to support student through appropriate follow-up. Res Life Staff should contact BAWAR and Counseling Services if they need assistance in determining appropriate follow-up strategies.
  • At no time during or after the incident should the staff member insist or persuade the student to:
  • Fully disclose to Campus Safety or other entities their identity
  • File a report with police or other authorities
  • Discriminate or otherwise intentionally alienate the survivor.

Reports to Counseling Services:

  • Counselor will offer direct support counseling and crisis intervention to student and in

some cases, other students or staff that may have been involved in the incident.

  • If this department is the first contact made by the student, the Counseling staff may (if given permission by the student) file an anonymous sexual assault incident report form with the Campus Safety Department.
  • Counselor will explain the limits of confidentiality to the student including that in some situations s/he will be required to notify Campus Life in order to safeguard the campus community. In that instance, the student’s identity would not be revealed.
  • Present the option of receiving services from outside entities such as health care providers, police and BAWAR.
  • Present option to file a report with either the University or local police including:
  • Explaining that time is of the essence in obtaining evidence.
  • Advising student not to inadvertently destroy evidence by showering or changing clothes.
  • Explaining that the police will hold any evidence obtained until the student decides whether or not to press charges.
  • Inform student of the option to file a report under the Student Code of Conduct with the Associate Dean of Students, Student Affairs
  • Inform student of additional services available through Campus Life including Campus Ministry, continued service through CAPS, Campus Safety, etc.
  • At no time during or after the incident should the staff member insist or persuade the student to:
  • Fully disclose to Campus Safety or other entities their identity
  • File a report with police or other authorities
  • Discriminate or otherwise intentionally alienate the survivor.

Reports to Campus Safety:

  • Safety Officer should be empathetic, make sure the student is safe and assist the student secure needed professional services, including but not limited to those mentioned above. Student should be made aware of confidential community resources including BAWAR: (510) 845-RAPE (7273).
  • If this department is the first contact made by the student, the staff member should assure the student that although s/he is required to file an anonymous sexual assault report to keep on file, that this report will contain no identifying information regarding the student unless the student has given written consent.
  • Advise student that notification of other areas of campus is necessary if immediate danger is posed to the university community.
  • Advise the student that actions taken through the University's Student Code of Conduct may affect the outcome of any criminal or civil proceedings, and vice versa.
  • Inform victim that police will retain evidence until the Court System or the University disciplinary proceeding has reached a final disposition. If the student decides not to pursue any further investigation, then the property may bereturned to the legal owner.
  • Only by request of student, conduct a full investigation, complete a departmental report, which will be maintained in the Campus Safety Department and not shared with local authorities unless the student also agrees.
  • Explain the evidence gathering process and the importance of timeliness in obtaining such evidence.
  • Reinforce counseling services available through Counseling and Psychological Services
  • Campus Safety will notify the following of an incident:
  • Counseling & Psychological Services
  • Associate Dean of Students, Student Affairs
  • VP, Student Affairs
  • StudentSuccessCenter
  • Residence Life, if a residential student
  • Campus Safety
  • Campus Ministry
  • Continue to support student through appropriate follow-up. Campus Safety should contact BAWAR and Counseling Services if they need assistance in determining appropriate follow-up strategies.
  • At no time during or after the incident should the staff member insist or persuade the student to:
  • Fully disclose to Campus Safety or other entities their identity
  • File a report with police or other authorities
  • Discriminate or otherwise intentionally alienate the survivor.

Reports to other members of the HNU campus community:

  • Faculty/Staff member should be empathic, make sure the student is safe and assist the student secure needed professional services, including but not limited to those mentioned above. Student should be made aware of confidential community resources including BAWAR: (510) 845-RAPE (7273).
  • If this department is the first contact made by the student, the staff member should assure the student that although s/he is required to file an anonymous sexual assault report with Campus Safety, this report will contain no identifying information regarding the student unless the student has given written consent.
  • Community Member will notify the following of an incident:
  • Director, Counseling & Psychological Services
  • Associate Dean of Students, Student Affairs
  • Campus Safety
  • Staff member will continue to support student through appropriate follow-up. Staff member should contact BAWAR and Counseling Services if they need assistance in determining appropriate follow-up strategies.
  • At no time during or after the incident should the staff member insist or persuade the student to:
  1. Fully disclose to Campus Safety or other entities their identity
  2. File a report with police or other authorities
  3. Discriminate or otherwise intentionally alienate the survivor.

Reports made to the Associate Dean of Students by other staff members:

  • Dean will assure that an anonymous report was made to Campus Safety and if not, assist the staff member is doing so.
  • Dean will notify the following parties of the incident only:
  • Counseling Services
  • StudentSuccessCenter
  • Campus Ministry
  • Residence Life, if the student is a Resident
  • Athletics, if the student is an athlete
  • VP, Student Affairs

If the Dean is the first contact made by the student, the Associate Dean should follow procedures that other community members would follow, including the additional notifications.